North American Clean Energy - September October 2008 by North American Clean Energy

VOLUME 2

ISSUE 5

Meet the Hy-Bird

solar-hydrogen powered plane set to be the ďŹ rst to travel around the world using only renewables

Solar Power International 2008 Bringing Commercial Solar Performance Monitoring Down to Earth Making CSP cost-effective for any application

Solutions in Wind Energy Construction NACE September October 2008Ć&#x2019;.indd 1

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Simple design. Revolutionary advantages. It’s how we make the most reliable commercial inverters. UÊ È¯Ê ÊivwÊV i VÞ UÊ ÊÃÌ V Ê> `Ê ÜÊÃ «« } UÊ"«Ì > ÊÓä Þi>ÀÊÜ>ÀÀ> ÌÞ UÊ

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VOLUME 2

contents

ISSUE 5

Meet the Hy-Bird

solar-hydrogen powered plane set to be the ﬁrst to travel around the he worl d using only on r ren ewables world renewables

Solar Power International 2008

Roadblock for Renewable Energy: North America’s transmission challenge

Bringing Commercial Solar Performance Monitoring Down to Earth: Inverterintegrated solutions are going mainstream

Bringing Commercial Solar Performance Monitoring Down to Earth

September/October 2008 Volume 2, Number 5

Making CSP cost-effective for any application

MANAGING EDITOR

R. Keith Barker kbarker@nacleanenergy.com

The Environmental Impact of GroundMounted Solar Systems Considering installation and end-of- system-life implications

Taking Reﬂection to the Next Level Private industry and NREL are working together to cut the costs of parabolic trough collectors

Solutions in Wind Energy Construction

departments rtment

EDITOR

Michelle Froese mfroese@nacleanenergy.com ART DIRECTOR

Rommel Ramirez production@nacleanenergy.com SALES MANAGER

Ian Stuart istuart@nacleanenergy.com CIRCULATION MANAGER

Kristy Vail circulation@nacleanenergy.com ACCOUNTING

Alison Bell abell@nacleanenergy.com PUBLISHER

Ian Stuart istuart@nacleanenergy.com

Letters to the Editor

Solar Energy

Solar Power International 2008 Show In Print

Wind Energy

CanWEA 2008 Show in Print

Investing In Clean Energy

Waste to Energy

Biomass and Biofuels

Port Moody, B.C. V3H 5H1 Phone: (604) 461-6223

Geothermal Energy

Hydro and Marine Energy

Events Calendar

Advertiser Website Directory

North American Clean Energy accepts no responsibility or liability for reported claims made by manufacturers and/or distributors for products or services; the views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of North American Clean Energy. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. Copyright 2008, Action Media Ltd. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation department, 255 Newport Drive, Suite 336, Port Moody, B.C. V3H 5H1 email: circulation@nacleanenergy.com. Return undeliverable U.S. addresses to 515 University Ave., Henry, IL 61537. Subscription updates can be made at circulation@nacleanenergy.com.

MicroCSP: making CSP cost-effective for any application

Adding Value to PV Panels: In-panel monitoring is the trend to watch as dumb-panels turn smart

Intelligent Power Conversion: how the next generation of inverters will change the future of renewable energy production and distribution

Energy from Biomass and Waste (EBW) Show in Print 72

255 NEWPORT DRIVE, SUITE 336

North American Clean Energy is published bi-monthly by Action Media Ltd. Subscriptions: $48 per year. Foreign $89 per year. Editorial, Advertising, Production and Circulation are at 255 Newport Drive, Suite 336, Port Moody, B.C. V3H 5H1 (604) 461-6223.

Turnkey Solutions for Small Wind Turbine Manufacturers 52

Tide of Optimism for New Energy Source

Mobile Tool Cribs Increasing jobsite efﬁciency and accountability at wind farms

Sale of the Alta Wind Project: What it means for future wind power deals

Paying for Wind: Costs and considerations of ﬁnancing wind energy projects

Forward-thinking: New England sawmill turns waste to energy

Industrial Facilities Embrace Renewable Energy in Form of Onsite Biomass

Brief Anatomy of a Geothermal Power Purchase Agreement 80

Solutions to Challenges in Wind Energy Construction in Canada

Geothermal Developments Highlights from the SMU Conference in Dallas

Information will remain strictly confidential.

North American Clean Energy

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Roadblock for Renewable Energy

North America’s transmission challenge By Ed Feo and Cynthia Koploy

oaring energy prices and concern over global warming have helped accelerate demand for renewable energy. The majority of US states have set renewable ewable portfolio standards for increasing the h percentage off energy they h derive from renewable resources. However, efforts to generate much-needed alternative energy are being frustrated without concurrent creation of the infrastructure necessary to transmit energy to consumers. Due to the nature of North America’s geography, most wind, geothermal, and solar generation facilities are and will continue to be located in remote areas far from population centers. This problem is compounded by the high cost of building transmission infrastructure, as well as legal, regulatory, and environmental hurdles that can delay transmission projects. Fortunately, states such as Texas and California have created initiatives to help fund, site, and build transmission projects. If the political will behind these initiatives sustains them, funding to build transmission capacity will follow, and the infrastructure needed to take advantage of alternative energy projects will continue to develop, leading to a new era in energy generation and transmission. The US transmission system was originally built to support limited transactions between monopoly utilities, which were each responsible for building their own infrastructure locally. A combination of factors led to a chronic under-investment in transmission. An Edison Electric Institute study titled, Transmission Crisis Looming? concluded that transmission investments have been declining for 25 years, at an average rate of $155 million per year. Partial blame is due to increasing costs and difﬁculty assuring an adequate return 6

September / October 2008

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on investment. Partial blame can also be placed on time and the difﬁculty of permitting transmission lines. Approval of transmission construction has historically been a domain of the states, and in many cases local interests or, in the case of transmission lines across state borders, inter-state disputes resulted in delayed or cancelled projects. Until the Energy Policy Act of 2005, there was no clear federal authority for licensing of transmission lines. EPACT 2005 at least introduced a concept of national interest electric transmission corridors, where the federal government can play a backstop role in permitting, but only after there had been demonstrated gridlock at the state level. Meanwhile, a growing mandate for renewable energy made expediting the process of building new transmission lines critical. To comply with the renewable portfolio standards adopted by (at this point) twenty-six states, a number of states are implementing transmission initiatives to allow new renewable power to reach population centers. In Texas, Senate Bill 20, passed in 2005, directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to designate competitive renewable energy zones (CREZ), and to develop a plan to construct transmission capacity to deliver renewable energy from those zones. Senate Bill 20 permitted the recovery in a utility’s rate base of transmission costs for which a certiﬁcate of convenience and necessity was issued, regardless of the level of actual use of transmission facilities. SB 20 changed a previously applicable rule that transmission facilities had to be demonstrated to be used at an adequate level to be included in rate base. It also meant transmission line owners could recover their costs even if projects expected to use the transmission line did not reach operation.

Need for transmission line development has reached a critical stage in Texas. West Texas wind farms have been unable to deliver power at times of peak production (or have been reliant on an over-supplied local market with low or negative prices) because of insufﬁcient transmission capacity. Forecasts of periods of curtailment for some areas of West Texas have grown from under 4% to 10% of available hours. The CREZ process developed three scenarios for new transmission ranging from Scenario 1, with estimated new capacity of 5,150 MW and an estimated cost of new transmission of $3.8 billion, to a more aggressive Scenario 3, with a capacity of 17,956 MW and a cost of $6.4 billion. On July 17th, 2008, the PUCT opted for a middle ground or Scenario 2, with proposed additional capacity of 11,553 MW, 2,300 miles of new 345 kv transmission lines and an estimated cost of $4.9 billion. The PUCT is currently holding settlement conferences to determine which transmission line proponents will build the new transmission. Proposals have been submitted by utilities, including a joint venture of American Electric Power and MidAmerican Energy Holdings, as well as independent transmission companies such as ITC Holdings, TransElect and Babcock & Brown. Within a few years, under the PUCT program, approximately 2,400 miles of new 345 kV transmission lines will be available to serve 18,456 MW of existing and projected wind power projects in Texas. The PUCT is expected to decide which parties will construct the Scenario 2 transmission by the end of 2009. California’s SB 1078 and SB 107 set a renewable portfolio standard of 20% by 2010, and the state’s Energy Action Plan

Ed Feo is a partner in the international law ﬁrm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. He co-chairs the Firm’s project ﬁnance and energy practice and is a member of the Firm’s Global Executive Committee.

includes a goal of 33% by 2020. These aggressive benchmarks mandate significant increases in renewable generation, but development of new renewable generation has been impaired by transmission constraints. Today, there are 16,000 MW of wind projects and 22,000 MW of solar projects in the queue for interconnection at the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), and virtually all will require transmission network upgrades. To address the transmission challenge, SB 1078 also mandated certification of new transmission facilities necessary to achieve the RPS goals. California’s Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI) is a statewide initiative bringing together stakeholders from utilities, generators, and transmission interests, as well as others in an effort to identify generation and transmission projects needed to achieve renewable energy benchmarks, by locating competitive renewable energy zones that can be developed in cost-effective and environmentally sensitive manners. The RETI process is proceeding in three phases: Phase 1 is designed to provide project level screening and ranking of potential renewable resource zones in California and neighboring states, and to broadly identify the transmission requirements for those zones; Phase 2 will be a more in-depth examination, and will develop conceptual transmission plans to the highest ranking zones; Phase 3 will develop detailed plans of service for commercially viable transmission projects. To date, development of an assessment methodology has been completed as the first part of Phase 1, and the RETI working group is now utilizing this methodology to aggregate identified renewable resources into competitive renewable energy zones. Given

nacleanenergy.com

9/6/08 7:07:14 PM

editor’s note

This issue, we thought we’d simply share some famous words on the subject of energy. And what is a man without energy? Nothing - nothing at all. - Mark Twain Energy and persistence alter all things. - Benjamin Franklin Our universe is a sea of energy - free, clean energy. It is all out there waiting for us to set sail upon it. - Robert Adams

After the third tribulation, a new source of energy will be discovered that taps the earth’s magnetic ﬁeld. - Hopi Prophecy “I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun’s energy... If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago. - Sir George Porter

Free energy will promulgate a forward leap in human progress akin to the discovery of ﬁre. It will bring the dawn of an entirely new civilization - one based on freedom and abundance. - Sterling D. Allan

Letters and comments welcome anytime. Email: kbarker@nacleanenergy.com. Email: kbarker@nacleanenergy.com.

Sincerely, R. Keith Barker

From a list compiled and Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo.

GE Energy

that access to transmission will be the difference between success and failure in project development, the process is highly debated among stakeholders. As initiatives such as those in California and Texas proceed, funding needed to build essential transmission infrastructure will follow, eventually integrating renewable energy into the grid. With each California and Texas, cost of transmission projects will be rolled into rate base allowing generation to be built without being overburdened by network upgrades. In the case of California, FERC approved a CAISO request last year for a new category of “multi-user resource trunklines” – essentially gen-tie transmission lines used to connect multiple location constrained generation sources – in FERC approved transmission rates. Tariffs will provide a basis for predictable cash ﬂow for the transmission owner to support project ﬁnancing. Owners of the new transmission will either be load-serving utilities or independent transmission companies. Regardless, all will be relying on their tariffs for recovery of construction costs. Southern California Edison alone is looking to spend upwards of $5.5 billion on transmission projects, to add up to 7,000 MW of new generation to its system. Transmission is a roadblock to success of the expansion of renewable energy projects. Fortunately, state initiatives such as those in Texas and California are facilitating new transmission from the renewable energy zones to load centers, and have begun to create the pipeline of investment and political will needed to overhaul a system long overdue for renovation.

Our customers have high standards. So do we. That’s why we’re teaming with other GE businesses to help bring added value to you. From Global Research to Consumer & Industrial, from Transportation to Commercial Finance – with locations in more than 100 countries and 300,000 team members worldwide, we’re working together to raise the bar when it comes to advanced, cost effective and reliable wind technology and services. Our goal is to help you succeed. Our capabilities cover the full range of wind energy supply, support services and project development assistance. What you can imagine, we can make happen. www.ge-energy.com/wind

Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP www.milbank.com North American Clean Energy

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solar energy

Partnership to deliver costeffective mounting solution

Solar system to produce 15 Million kilowatt hours annually

Allied Tube & Conduit and RoofScreen have joined forces to provide the solar industry with a new, cost-effective mounting solution. Using Allied Gatorshield tubing, which combines the strength benefits of steel with the flexibility typically associated with aluminum, RoofScreen’s frames are able to span long distances, while using less material. This system results in fewer frames and roof penetrations, and Allied’s signature in-line three-step coating process adds superior corrosion protection. “The strength and corrosion protection offered by Allied’s Gatorshield steel tubing makes it a perfect fit for our mounting system,” said Ryan Bruce, president of RoofScreen. “The product is made to sit outdoors in a corrosive environment—it lasts longer than standard galvanized tubing.” According to the companies, racking systems provide several advantages over ballasted systems, which can deteriorate roof membranes. RoofScreen mounting systems are designed to allow access to the roof for maintenance, improve efficiency of solar panels, and withstand wind, snow and earthquakes.

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) announced recently that its UNI-SOLAR thin-film flexible solar laminates will power the world’s largest rooftop solar power system. The 12-megawatt system is being installed on a General Motors assembly plant in Figueruelas, Zaragoza, Spain and will become operational this fall. ECD will supply the solar laminates through its wholly owned subsidiary, United Solar Ovonic, LLC. When fully operational, the photovoltaic system will have a peak capacity of 12 megawatts, producing as much as 15 million kilowatt hours of energy annually, enough to power approximately 4,500 homes. The Zaragoza facility marks the third major use of UNI-SOLAR laminates by GM. UNI-SOLAR thin-film flexible solar laminates also power GM parts warehouses in Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana, California, two of the largest rooftop solar power installations in the United States. “We are pleased that GM is again using United Solar as its solar provider, and that our UNI-SOLAR laminates are the product of choice for the world’s largest rooftop solar system,” said Mark Morelli, president and CEO of Energy Conversion Devices. “Our UNI-SOLAR laminates are an ideal match for rooftop systems like this one, and we are proud to be a part of this project.” “While there has been recent uncertainty about government incentives for solar energy in Europe, and specifically in Spain, we have had great success with our products throughout Europe, and this project expands our presence in Spain where we see excellent growth opportunities for our UNI-SOLAR laminates, especially in building integrated and commercial rooftop applications,” added Mr. Morelli. GM partnered with Veolia Environnement, a world leader in environmental services, Clairvoyant Energy S.L., the solar energy developer, and the Government of Aragon to develop the Zaragoza renewable energy project. The company will lease its roof space to Clairvoyant Energy and Veolia Environnement, who will build, own and operate the rooftop solar installation.

Allied Tube & Conduit | www.alliedtube.com RoofScreen Mfg. | www.roofscreen.com/solar

United Solar Ovonic Energy Conversion Devices | www.ovonic.com

letters to the editor... Dear Editor: In John Urbanchuk’s article on ethanol, “The impact of ethanol on world oil prices” (North American Clean Energy; Volume 2, Issue 4) he states that “It seems clear that the only realistic avenue available for consuming nations that have to reduce the impact of skyrocketing oil and motor fuel prices, is to increase supply.” Why not increase fuel efﬁciency? The average North American car consumes only 20 mpg. Most of the answers to our energy needs are on the demand side not the supply side. Why couldn’t we have a ﬂeet of 50 mpg cars? Larry Schlussler, Ph.D. SUN FROST info@sunfrost.com www.sunfrost.com 8

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To the Editor, I am writing to clarify statements about the Verdant Power East River demonstration project referred to in the article by Ed Feo and Marco McClees, “The Emergence of a new Contender.” (North American Clean Energy; Volume 2, Issue 4.) NYSERDA [New York State Energy Research and Development Authority] funded, and continues to fund, the development and demonstration of the Verdant Power hydrokinetic electric generating technology – since 2003. Six kinetic hydro turbines were installed at the site; [including the] Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project, one connected to a dynamometer, and ﬁve connected to induction generators. While all turbines operated as designed for a limited time and pro-

duced electric power consumed by loads on nearby Roosevelt Island, the turbines stopped functioning due to mechanical failures. A redesign of the failed component underwent rigorous laboratory testing, and two turbines with the new component will be deployed in the East River this summer for additional testing. As you know, renewable sources of energy such as kinetic hydro are a vital part of the solution to becoming more energy independent, as a State and a nation. Research and development is an important aspect in achieving energy independence, and investing in these types of green energy sources will provide for a cleaner, more sustainable environment, lessen our dependence on oil that often comes from trouble spots around the globe, and reduce our carbon footprint. Renewable

energy technologies such as this are an important part of [New York] Governor Paterson’s efforts to implement the recommendations of his renewable energy task force. Joseph H. Sayer Senior Project Manager, Power Systems NYS Energy Research and Development Authority. jhs@nyserda.org

Letters and comments welcome anytime. Email: kbarker@nacleanenergy.com

nacleanenergy.com

9/6/08 7:07:17 PM

Industry’s ﬁrst ﬁber laser dicing system introduced

$1.27 million system to deliver 253,798 kw hours per year

The Blackstar is the solar industry’s ﬁrst ﬁber laser dicing system. It is designed as a solution to the solar industry’s demand to increase the number of dies, yield per wafer and maximize throughput while minimizing the HAZ (Heat Affected Zone). The Blackstar accommodates the requirements of a silicon wafer singulation process without affecting the existent dicing method, processes or procedures. This system is an ideal alternative to mechanical saws that can damage or be too costly for cutting of thin delicate silicon, low-K and complex material wafers. Blackstar was designed to be easily integrated into a full turn-key processing line or as a standalone system. Advanced Solar Photonics | www.advancedsolarphotonics.com

Clear Skies Solar, Inc. recently announced the successful installation of a $1,276,684 solar energy system at the Hawthorne Machinery company’s 25-acre headquarters in Rancho Bernardo, California. (www.hawthornecat.com.) For this $1,276,684 project, Clear Skies installed a 155.39 kw DC solar photovoltaic system designed to offset current energy usage charges incurred by Hawthorne’s headquarters. Following the initial engineering and permitting periods, total installation time was a mere ﬁve weeks, and through a reduction in energy cost and government incentives, Hawthorne is expected to recoup its initial investment in approximately seven years. Clyde Marion, Director of Corporate Procurement of Hawthorne Machinery, stated, “We were very happy with the Clear Skies team and the work they performed. Their team was efﬁcient and professional.” “This system’s 758 Kyocera 205-watt panels will offset the electricity usage of approximately 77 average-sized American homes, making it a perfect example of implementing positive energy solutions in the real world,” said Ezra Green, Clear Skies Solar’s CEO and Chairman. Clear Skies Solar, Inc. www.ClearSkiesSolar.com

Single axis tracking system SunCarrier is a single axis tracking system that continuously adjusts the surface of modules to the current position of the sun. This ensures the perfect alignment for capturing sunlight and allows an increase yield of 30% in comparison to motionless systems oriented to the south. With its modular surface of up to 287.5 square metres – depending on the module type – the SunCarrier supplies up to 40 kWp. According to its manufacturer a+f GmbH, besides dozens of single systems and “small” parks with up to six SunCarriers in Germany, Greece, Italy and Korea, the company has realized more than 43 MW in TurnKey project solutions in Spain during the last 12 months. a+f GmbH / Gildemeister www.suncarrier.com North American Clean Energy

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9/6/08 7:07:18 PM

solar energy enXco unveils largest customer-driven solar system in US

his past July, renewable energy developer enXco, unveiled the US’s largest “customer-driven” PV system. The 1.25 MW (DC) PV plant was built for the SolarShares Program being offered to customers of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).

The new system is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 600 homes. enXco was awarded the contract to build, own and operate the system and will provide the energy on a 20-year power purchase agreement to SMUD.

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THERMAL | PV | WIND | WATER

All output from the project will be delivered to customers signed up in the SolarShares program. SMUD Executive Director John DiStasio said the solar farm will enable all customer classes and income levels to go solar at their homes. Customers can purchase “shares” of the system with a fee added to their utility bill based on the amount of power they purchase. Costs to residential customers are expected to range between $5 and $30 per month, depending on the allocation purchased. Customers will also be granted a 30-year ﬁxed electric rate when signing up for SolarShares, and can “take” their solar block with them, if they move within the electric service territory. Mark Tholke, Director, Utility-scale Solar Development for enXco, said the

collaborative business model between the utility and the developer enabled the project to be built on time and on budget, and that the timeline from PPA signing to ribbon cutting was just three months. The system employs 17,172 PV panels, manufactured by First Solar, and the array is one of the largest ground-mounted PV systems installed in the US, representing the nation’s largest PV project built exclusively in response to customer demand. Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc. was the system installer. SMUD is the sixth-largest municipal power utility in the US with about 580,000 power customers, who the company says have clamored to get their “share” of the system. Within just a few weeks after the system was energized, almost half of its capacity has been bought by customers, and SMUD expects the system to be fully subscribed within two months of its unveiling. SMUD hopes to expand the SolarShares program in phases, depending on customer demand. enXco www.enxco.com First Solar www.firstsolar.com Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc. www.premierpower.com Sacramento Municipal Utility District www.smud.org

Trina Solar provides PV cells for solarhydrogen powered airplane Trina Solar Ltd. recently announced a cooperation agreement with LISA Airplanes for the building of the Hy-Bird – a solar and hydrogen powered airplane that is set to be the first to fly around the world using only renewable energies. Under the agreement, Trina Solar will supply LISA Airplanes with almost 300 photovoltaic cells for the assembly of their hybrid plane. The solar PV cells on the wings and horizontal tail of the plane will supply sufficient energy to complete the fuel cell power for takeoff and for on-board power supply. Apart from this, the plane will be propelled by an electric engine, which is more silent and more effective at high altitude than heat engines. LISA (Light Innovative Sport Aircraft) Airplanes has already produced a scale model and expects to complete assembly of the real plane by the end of 2009. The company expects to make a series of full-scale test runs and introduce the Hy-Bird project, its technologies, its values and its partners in several countries where interest in renewable energies is growing rapidly. The Hy-Bird is expected to take off for its around-the-world flight, from West to East, through various stages of approximately 1,500 kilometres. “We are pleased to have reached this co-operation agreement for the construction of a solar airplane, since it is a pioneering project and represents a unique and innovative photovoltaic application that underscores the high quality and reliability of Trina Solar PV products,” remarked Arturo Herrero, Trina Solar’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We are very proud to be part of this sustainable energy airplane project as we continue to promote the benefits and use of solar energy worldwide”. Trina Solar Limited | www.trinasolar.com LISA Airplanes | www.LISA-airplanes.com or www.hy-bird.com

nacleanenergy.com

9/6/08 7:07:21 PM

Baja Solar

Baja makes Solar Support Systems... easier! Design | Engineer | Supply | Install

For over 30 years, Baja Construction has been building turn-key solar support structures, ssteel storage buildings, RV and boat storage and carports throughout the United States. O Our staff of professional sales representatives and experienced installation crews assure you of maximum efﬁciencies n no matter where your project is located. Our in-house engineering and architectural team is ready to meet any special n needs...Call on us if we can help. A All components in our pre-engineered, prefabricated packages meet or exceed industry standards and the prevailing b building code. And our Zincalume® or Galvalume® coated steel panels carry a 20-year corrosion resistance warranty. • Standard plans available to architects and designers • Complete pre-engineered package • Pre-fabricated • Pre-paid freight • Competitively priced • Designed for architectural compatibility • Speciﬁcally designed to meet your local loading requirements • Bonded, experienced installation crews • Standard Design’s available for various solar systems ...we also perform repairs

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solar energy

Bringing Commercial Solar Performance Monitoring Down to Earth Inverter-integrated solutions are going mainstream by Tucker Ruberti

t is currently more likely that a new commercial solar PV installation will be owned by investors rather than a building or land owner. This shift in ownership is driving an important transition in how system owners think about performance. Rather than building a system strictly around installed cost, solar system owners are increasingly focused on lifetime energy production and long term operation and maintenance costs. These performance metrics have an outsized impact on what truly matters — maximizing return on investment. This change in industry priorities has been largely responsible for an increased use in performance monitoring of commercial PV systems. Monitoring systems provide a range of information that can be used to reduce system downtime, optimize system performance and intelligently schedule system maintenance and module cleaning. Specific data includes detailed real-time power and historic energy production, performance and efficiency diagnostics at the PV sub-array and string level, correlated weather data, and alerts or alarms that can be customized based on a project’s specific needs. Additionally, the increased focus on performance monitoring is resulting in significant increases in energy production when compared to similar unmonitored systems. However, performance monitoring is still not standard for many commercial PV systems. One of the main reasons is that the design, installation and commissioning of a monitoring system typically involves many players who supply hardware and software that is not always designed to be compatible out of the box. Installers, integrators, PPA’s, inverter companies, and pure-play data monitoring companies continue to develop innovative solutions, but there are no com-

mon standards that enable plug-and-play interoperability. All too often the result is unexpected delays, increased installation costs, and frustration. A unique approach

PV Powered has chosen a unique approach to commercial data monitoring. The company has recognized that many PV system owners and integrators have already standardized on a preferred data monitoring provider. So instead of developing another custom commercial monitoring solution, they chose to partner with several companies who are focused on data monitoring technology. PV Powered’s commercial inverters can be ordered and shipped with integrated performance monitoring solutions from Draker Laboratories, Energy Recommerce, Inc. and Fat Spaniel. The company also offers both integrated revenue-grade metering and subcombiner monitoring, which can be used by integrators and owners that do not want to use one of the three integrated solutions providers, but still want to enjoy the beneﬁts of integrated monitoring hardware. Data can either be exported from the inverter to an external device, or for larger volume projects, the new hardware can be custom-integrated inside the inverter. PV Powered’s integrated monitoring hardware, including the data monitoring gateway, power supply and data acquisition modules, have been engineered onto a UL 508A industrial panel, which means a higher level of testing and reliability than stand-alone hardware solutions. Completed solutions are pre-wired and tested at the factory, and the streamlined solution is designed to simplify the entire process from conﬁguration to ordering and commissioning. The result is a tightly integrated commercial monitoring system that is ready to start reporting critical data perform-

A PVP100kW with the new integrated revenue grade meter.

A UL508A panel with integrated monitoring hardware.

ance and revenue statistics right out of the box. “Performance monitoring systems offer long-term benefit to our customers, and PV Powered’s solution goes a long way towards taking the headaches out of data monitoring for developers,” said Luke Soule of Solar Monkey, a solar integration company out of Irvine, California. Gregg Patterson, CEO of PV Powered comments; “Working with the leading PV data monitoring partners to elegantly integrate their monitoring solutions into our inverters has resulted in a highly reliable solution that virtually eliminates the installation time and configuration challenges for installers in the field. We believe that bringing plug-and-play simplicity to data monitoring will be a fundamental catalyst for industry growth.”

enclosure for the revenue grade meter, and a third enclosure for the data monitoring system. All of the enclosures, conduit, wiring and labor are eliminated in an inverterintegrated performance monitoring package. This saves valuable space at the installation site, reduces potential installation errors and improves the overall aesthetics of the installation. Devices that are typically wired back to the data monitoring enclosure, including a weather station, string combiner monitoring, and demand metering, are simply wired back to the inverter. In addition, instead of purchasing and installing separate CT’s and other sensors to capture inverter performance data, the integrated solution leverages the inverter’s resident data acquisition capabilities. A direct modbus connection from the inverter communications board feeds real-time performance data and fault codes to the partner’s data monitoring gateway. Inverter-integrated monitoring is an important step in controlling the number of touch-points and potential failures in commercial data monitoring. By providing commercial PV integrators and end users with choice and convenience, the adoption of performance monitoring beyond large investor-owned PV systems is now a viable option, and is making a high level of sophisticated system care accessible to a much broader segment of the solar industry.

A range of beneﬁts

There are also other valuable beneﬁts to an inverter-integrated data monitoring solution. In a typical commercial PV monitoring installation there is an enclosure for the subcombiner monitoring system, another

PV Powered www.pvpowered.com Draker Laboratories www.drakerlabs.com Energy Recommerce, Inc www.energyrecommerce.com Fat Spaniel Technologies www.fatspaniel.com Solar Monkey www.solarmonkey.net 12

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The Environmental Impact of Ground-Mounted Solar Systems Considering installation and end-of-system-life implications by Bill Jeppesen

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“Solar power has virtually no environmental impact.” Now that’s a statement everyone can agree on. However, things in life are rarely that simple. Take for instance Ausra, Inc. a developer of utility-scale solar thermal power plants, and its plans for a $500 million solar thermal plant in Carrizo Plain, California. There is no doubt that if local residents such as the Blunt-nosed leopard lizard, the San Joaquin antelope squirrel and the Short nosed kangaroo rat could talk, they might have something to say about solar power’s environmental impact. Harnessing the energy of the sun to produce electricity might seem unrelated to the lives of these tiny creatures. However, one need only read a letter to Ausra posted on the California Energy Commission website and it is clear the Commission (as well as the California Department of Fish and Game) feels there is a great deal of study needed on the plant’s potential environmental impact. The point here is not to comment one way or the other on the Ausra project. The point is to raise awareness about the installation of solar power systems and the impact they may have on the environment during installation and over the lifecycle of the project. This concept is applicable to utilityscale solar thermal or photovoltaic projects as well as privately owned ground mount systems. Assessing the environmental impact of a solar energy project absolutely should consider the amount of carbon offsets and the associated analogous beneﬁts of those offsets (e.g., number of miles not driven, number of trees planted, number of tons of green house gases avoided, etc.) These are important environmental beneﬁts and those paying for the installation and the system have every right to claim some good PR for themselves. However, these systems have a life cycle. At some point, their usefulness will end and what was once a source of green energy has the potential to become an ecological problem — not good PR by anybody’s standards. The environmental impact of a solar energy project should include an endof-life assessment as well. PV modules may contain toxic chemicals, which left to erode and decay could affect the local environment negatively, for example, by contaminating ground water supplies.

Using support poles that are pushed into the ground avoids the environmental impact of injecting tons of cement below the surface. Recognizing this, companies such as First Solar, a solar module manufacturer based out of Arizona, has developed a comprehensive program for collecting and recycling its modules for treatment and processing into new modules or other uses. First Solar highlights the program on its website stating: “Anyone in possession of a First Solar PV Module can participate in the recycling program by submitting a request for collection. First Solar will pay all packaging, transportation and recycling costs; the end user’s only responsibility is to disassemble and package the modules based on instructions provided by First Solar. http://www.ﬁrstsolar.com/ recycle_modules.php” And yet, it doesn’t end there. Companies are beginning to recognize that the environmental impact of a solar energy system should include the installation technique as well. For example, companies such as Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc. (PPRE), one of the largest companies specializing in the integration and installation of solar electric systems, is currently implementing programs with end-of-system-life considerations in mind. For PPRE, its concept follows the code of outdoor ethics used by the Boy Scouts and many back packers and campers – “Leave No Trace.” (http:// www.lnt.org/index.php) The company is

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Solar pump stations for solar water heating systems

incorporating the concept into the design, engineering and installation of its solar ground mounted systems.

Caleffi’s 255-256 series solar pump stations are used on the primary circuit of solar water heating systems to transfer heat from the collector to the storage tank. The pump inside the unit is activated by a signal from the differential temperature controller which controls the temperature of stored hot water. The unit contains the components and safety devices for optimal system control, and is available with dual line flow and return connection or with single line return connection only. Caleffi’s solar pump station is pre-assembled and leak-tested for trouble free installations. Caleffi | www.caleffi.us

Leaving no trace

“Traditionally, most ground-mount solar installations need three-foot diameter and six foot deep augured holes to support the solar structure. You then have to transport the resulting piles of topsoil, dirt and rocks to another location, or distribute it over a larger area, which in turn disturbs other vegetation, animals and insects,” said Dean Marks, president of PPRE. “These installations will also use tons of concrete injected into the earth, remaining there for hundreds of years.” Recently, PPRE demonstrated its “Leave No Trace” style during the installation of a 1.2MW ground mount solar system in Wilton, California. Instead of digging holes, it pushed more than 2,300 support poles into the ground, using a technique normally associated with construction of highway safety rails. This avoids the environmental impact of injecting from 170 to 340 tons of cement into the ground, were it to mount the poles using traditional methods. If necessary, Premier Power can also set cement ballasts above ground should a post require additional support. At the end of the project’s life, expected to be beyond 20 years, the ballasts can be lifted and a reverse process can pull the poles out for re-use, leaving the land in its original, pre-installation state. So while it is true, solar power production has virtually no environmental impact, its installation and end-of-life does. Protecting our natural resources (be it something as obvious as a river or something not so obvious as a Blunt-nosed leopard lizard) is a nobrainer. Selling and installing a solar energy system today, while thinking about what it might leave behind, and what to do with it in 30 years takes a little more thought. Bill Jeppesen is a freelance writer based in Northern California. He can be reached at bill_jeppesen@sbcglobal.net. Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc. www.premierpower.com Ausra, Inc. | www.ausra.com First Solar | www.firstsolar.com North American Clean Energy

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solar energy

Inverter can be conﬁgured for various countries

Solar panel handling solution

Modular ﬂat roof mounting system

The newly introduced “convert 8T” (power rating 8 kW) rounds off the “convert T” family of inverters, which thus far included appliances in the 4 kW, 6 kW and 10 kW categories. The “8T” is the first inverter in the series to come with switches for configuration for different EU countries as standard. Individual country versions are therefore no longer required, which is a major advantage in terms of exports and logistics. The appliance can be configured for Belgium, Germany, France, Greece (continent/islands), Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and Spain. The other members of the “convert T” series will gradually be upgraded in the second half of the year. All the systems in this inverter series are optimally tailored to Solar-Fabrik modules, and offer a high degree of efficiency within a very broad performance spectrum. The new “convert 8T” now provides flexible combination options for all solar plant sizes. Furthermore, all the appliances in this series offer innovative Phase-3 technology.

Shuttleworth conveyor systems are used in a wide range of applications, such as in the disk drive and semi-conductor industries, and others that require a clean environment and gentle handling of delicate, high-value product. The Shuttleworth conveyor’s surface can be customized to gently convey large ﬂat sheets of glass, typically used in the manufacturing of solar panel modules. Each system can also be designed to interface easily with robots and other automation equipment. Plus, a number of custom devices and mechanisms can be integrated into the conveyor surface to stop, transfer, rotate or raise panels for inspection.

The Schletter WindSafe PV mounting system is designed for flat roofs that allow only minimal extra loads. These modular systems feature proven stability, and require significantly less extra weight as ballast than conventional constructions. A special wind-deflector in the back of the rack reduces wind loads striking the construction. The modularity of the system and the combination possibilities of different anchoring methods, module clamps and profiles, allows for a wide range of applications. In addition, the design matching of the single parts, along with the highest possible degree of pre-assembly, guarantees a short mounting time to save labour costs. All major components of these racks are manufactured in aluminum which makes handling easy. It also allows for the creation and extrusion of unique profile shapes, cuts down on material, and allows for the engineering of special forms for easy mounting and matching of single components.

Shuttleworth | www.shuttleworth.com

Schletter Inc. | www.schletter-inc.us

Solar-Fabrik AG | www.solar-fabrik.com

Pool mount exceeds IBC code requirements The new Quick Mount PV Pool Mount utilizes proprietary technology to ensure secure waterprooﬁng and structural attachment to a roof. The QMPV Pool Mount meets and exceeds the IBC code requirements for securing Pool Panels to an asphalt shingle or wood shake roof. This product will not void a roof’s warranty, is labour saving, quick and easy to install, requires no roof cutting and is IBC code compliant. Quick Mount PV www.QuickMountPV.com

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FINALLY, A POWER PLANT WHOSE ONLY EMISSION IS POWER. Our crystalline silicon and thin film solutions enable solar panel production on a gigawatt scale, making large-scale solar power affordable for everyone, everywhere. To learn more, visit appliedmaterials.com/solar.

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solar energy Partnership results in one of the largest roof-mounted solar systems in North America Fresh & Easy is the fourth largest retail chain in the world. With parent company Tesco behind them, the company has

pledged to use 30 percent less energy than traditional stores. Solar Integrated was chosen to help achieve this goal by developing, designing and installing a solar roofing system for the company’s 500,000 square foot distribution centre in Riverside, California. Because of the magnitude of the project – the distribution centre is the size of five football fields – and the fact that portions of

the centre are refrigerated, careful design and installation techniques needed to be considered. Speciﬁcally, over the refrigerated areas, a non-penetrating method of installation was required. Fresh & Easy chose Solar Integrated to be its trusted partner in-part because of the company’s patented and proprietary BIPV technology. The company’s thin-ﬁlm panels are extremely durable and weigh only 12 oz/ft2.

To maximize the effectiveness of the system in terms of energy output, environmental impact and energy management/efficiency, Fresh & Easy also chose to install Solar Integrated’s Renewable Energy Management System (REM). Used internally, the REM system enables Fresh & Easy to manage and control energy costs more economically and efficiently as well as manage the measurement and reduction of GHGs. Additionally, with the REM system, and via a link on the Fresh & Easy website, the daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or system-to-date activities of the solar roofing system can be viewed by anyone. The “live” solar panel link on their website is at http://www.freshandeasy.com/greenBuilding. aspx#solarPanel. The Fresh & Easy solar roofing system installation was completed in 2007 and is designed to operate with a peak output of 2 megawatts (MW). “We are thrilled to partner with Fresh & Easy on their exciting entry into the U.S. market,” says R. Randall MacEwen, President and CEO, Solar Integrated Technologies, Inc. “Fresh & Easy has strong commitments to being a leader in helping to create a low carbon economy. Our BIPV roofing system at this distribution center will produce over 2.6 million kilowatt hours per annum, provide over a fifth of its power supply, and save 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.” Solar Integrated Technologies, Inc. www.solarintegrated.com

Insulation systems for solar hot water market K-Flex Solar Systems are designed to provide both high temperature performance and UV resistance. The KFlex Solar Twin System - ST provides complete insulation for solar hot water applications, and includes ﬂexible stainless tubing, high temperature insulation, a UV / abuse-resistant jacket and thermostat wire packaged in 50’ or 75’ coils. Plus, supply and return lines are joined together with a hot melt adhesive, thus providing a quick and easy way to insulate the system. Other models include the K-Flex Solar Solar- R, which does not include the stainless steel tubing or the thermostat wire and comes in 6’ sections or 50’ coils. K-Flex AL Clad and K-Flex WT Clad are also available, in larger IDs up to 8”, and are designed for commercial systems where mechanical abuse and UV resistance may be more severe. K-Flex USA | www.kflexusa.com 18

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Electrode with integrated shading protection answer to challenges of UMG PV cells Day4 Energy Inc. announced in August that it has successfully developed and tested a proprietary PV module technology specifically designed for application with solar cells based on Upgraded Metallurgical Grade (UMG) silicon material. According to the company, once commercialized, UMG silicon technologies are widely believed to become a viable source of low cost alternative silicon material for the solar industry. However, UMG silicon processing presents a number of technical challenges across the industry’s value chain. Day4’s proprietary technology is designed to address specific requirements of UMG silicon based solar cells and is expected to offer significant cost reduction potential for solar power generation. The company has used its proprietary Day4 Electrode and distributed by-pass diode technologies to integrate shading protection directly into the solar cells, as opposed to the traditional approach which calls for by-pass diodes to be placed in the centralized junction box area on the back of the solar module. Due to the inherent flexibility of Day4 Electrode integrated by-pass diode technology, shading protection can now be distributed throughout the solar module, reducing product sensitivity to changing solar illumination conditions, and partial solar module shading in particular. While the technology is certainly applicable to all types of PV cells, it is particularly relevant for UMG silicon based solar cells as it addresses one of the key issues of commercial UMG silicon based solar modules – increased sensitivity and potential danger to PV module integrity at the time of partial module shading. “It is known that UMG based solar cells typically have substantially lower shunt resistance and a corresponding lower value of breakdown voltage compared to conventional solar grade multicrystalline solar cells,” says Professor Leonid Rubin, chief technology officer of Day4 Energy. “This fact imposes a limitation on the maximum number of solar cells that can be connected in series in the solar module in order to prevent irreversible breakdown in case of partial module shading during operation.” “Our low cost integrated Day4 Electrode by-pass diode technology eliminates this problem and removes some of the existing prejudice against wider employment of this potentially prospective material.” UMG silicon technology for manufacturing silicon ingots and wafers is widely believed to offer significant po-

tential for cost reduction for the PV industry as a whole. With recent progress made by a number of companies at the silicon puriﬁcation level, UMG silicon material is starting to make its way into the PV cell production lines. At the same time, PV module technology requires its share of modiﬁcations in order to successfully utilize these new UMG

silicon based PV cells without jeopardizing the long-term integrity of the ﬁnal product. Day4’s new technology addresses these issues and removes one of the key roadblocks on the way to implementation of UMG silicon solar cells in large-scale commercial solar module manufacturing. The technology is ultimately enabled by a combination of the

company’s proprietary Day4 Electrode technology for contacting and interconnecting solar cells with a proprietary low cost by-pass diode design. The company has applied for patent protection in connection with this invention. Day4 Energy Inc. www.day4energy.com

North American Clean Energy

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solar energy P-6 surface profiler system introduced KLA-Tencor recently unveiled its latest stylus surface profiling system, the P-6, offering a unique set of advanced features for scientific research and production environments, such as PV solar cell manufacturing. The P-6 system benefits from measurement technologies developed on advanced semiconductor profiler systems, but in a smaller, more economical bench top design for samples up to 150mm. These units feature a low noise floor that improves measurement sensitivity to characterize small topography, less than 6Å step height repeatability, a 150mm X-Y sample stage, 2D stress measurement and analysis, and powerful, easy to use analysis software. “The P-6 has the resolution, scan quality and automation needed to improve solar cell efficiencies in the development stage, as well as monitor process quality in production,” said Jeff Donnelly, KLA-Tencor.

Smart Enclosure enhanced for ﬁeld serviceability

KLA-Tencor | www.kla-tencor.com

Satcon. The standard for clean power.

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Solis Energy recently introduced its next generation “Smart Enclosure” to meet the demanding needs of the solar energy marketplace. Enhanced features focus on simplifying field serviceability by providing quick access on the enclosure and its components. Each enclosure has a large back panel and full shelf for mounting electronics. An oversized battery compartment allows the use of thermal insulation as well as multiple battery sizing and wiring configurations. The improved design allows all cable/wiring management through the bottom of the enclosure and can be pole-, wall-, or pedestal-mounted. Custom bulkhead connectors reduce installation time and errors. The integrated wire management and DIN rail system provide professional looking installations, and flexibility in enclosure sizes allows integrators to choose the exact solution in a cost-sensitive marketplace. Units use only heavy gauge aluminum and stainless steel materials, designed for years of service in the harshest environments. Solis Energy | www.SolisEnergy.com

PowerGate Plus. Large-scale solar PV inverters. Commercial and Utility Scale

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The world’s largest solar power installations depend on Satcon® PowerGate® Plus PV inverters to provide efficient and stable power—even in the harshest climates.

Engineered from the ground up to meet the demands of large-scale installations, Satcon PV inverters feature an outdoorrated enclosure, advanced monitoring and control capabilities, and Edge,™ Satcon’s next-generation MPPT solution.

Broad Range of Power Ratings With 11 power ratings—ranging from 30 kW to 1 MW (UL and CE certified)— Satcon offers the widest range of solar PV inverter solutions in the industry.

Learn More To learn more about the complete line of Satcon PowerGate Plus PV inverters, please visit satcon.com/go/cleanpower.

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Panel attachment for standing seam metal roofs A standing seam metal roof has a life expectancy consistent with that of crystalline PV modules – around 30 years. It has traditionally been challenging to attach solar modules to this kind of roof without piercing the paneling, and thereby voiding manufacturer’s warrantees. The S-5-PV Kit attaches PV panels to standing seam metal paneling quickly and easily utilizing S-5!’s patented attachment clamps and attendant roundpoint setscrews which enable quick and easy penetration-free attachment. S-5! | www.S-5.com

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Are you tired of the ever increasing costs of natural gas, heating oil and electricity? Are you suffering through cold winters just to reduce your energy costs? SolarSheat® is an affordable and efficient heat generating solution which will help reduce your current energy bills. It supplements your heating needs with a continuous flow of thermostatically controlled warm air to the cold spaces or rooms in your home, cottage or business when the sun is shining. Each self-powered unit can be mounted on an outside wall or on your roof (perferably south-facing) and are available in a variety of configurations suited to your specific needs. With SolarSheat® you will get years of maintenance-free operation using the free, unlimited supply of clean energy from the sun. It’s time for SolarSheat®.

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The ‘Free supply of energy with every purchase’ refers to the solar energy required to operate each unit after the units purchase. The unit generates heat from solar energy during daylight hours when the sun is shining. No other free energy source is required or implied.

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solar energy

Taking Reﬂection to the Next Level

ReflecTech Mirror Film co-inventor (and SkyFuel CTO) Randy Gee, measuring the reflectance of ReflecTech mirror Film panels at the SEGS VI plant in Kramer Junction, California.

Private industry and NREL are working together to cut the costs of parabolic trough collectors by D. Drew Bond

he US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)’s Commercialization Team is charged with the task of accelerating the deployment of emerging energy technologies into the marketplace. The Team works closely with various EERE program offices, national research laboratories and private industry, and has a number of initiatives designed to assist in bridging the “commercialization valley of death” between the laboratory and the marketplace. Among them – the establishment of an Entrepreneur in Residence

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program at DOE national laboratories, designed to increase the number of startups coming from the Labs. The Team also played a part in the development of the Technology Commercialization Fund (a total of $7 million in FY 2008), which serves as early stage seed capital, along with private partners, for moving lab research closer to the market. Primarily the EERE Team focuses on developing partnerships between national laboratories and private industry to help overcome commercialization obstacles and move clean energy technology to the

marketplace. One such partnership, as detailed here below, was developed between an independent researcher and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Solar reﬂector material: opportunity for innovation

In the late 1980’s, as the first commercial scale Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants were being built in the Mojave Desert, there was a concerted effort to use reflective films instead of glass mirrors in the interest of keep-

ing costs down. Despite the best efforts of leading film makers, those attempts proved to be unsatisfactory as the early silverized films were unstable and degraded in the desert environment. As a result, glass mirrors became the default standard in CSP plants for reflecting sunlight onto the heat collection receiver tubes of those systems. In the lab, efforts to produce a durable, reflective film continued. Independent researcher Randy Gee, along with National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) engineer Gary Jorgensen, worked to form a cooperative agreement designed to confront the challenge of developing affordable, durable and highly-efficient solar reflector material. The Department of Energy funded NREL’s and Gee’s early research through a $25,000 grant. At NREL, Gee found a wealth of expertise in reflector material research and stateof-the-art testing facilities. He and Jorgensen had access to NREL’s world-class testing equipment, which maintains certain conditions necessary to achieve highly accelerated testing of reflector samples. “Having the opportunity to work with one of DOE’s National Laboratories isn’t just for large businesses – there are opportunities available for small businesses as well,” says Gee. “A little money, and a lot of hard work and cooperation can go a really long way.” Over a period of ten years at NREL’s state of the art testing facilities, Gee and Jorgensen developed a breakthrough solution for affordable, durable and highlyefficient solar reflector material. Together they submitted their invention for patentapproval and were jointly awarded a patent for ReflecTech Mirror Film in 2007. ReflecTech Mirror Film is a highlyreflective, silver-metalized and outdoorweatherable film that is easy to maintain and delivers the performance of traditional glass mirrors at a fraction of the cost and weight. The technology has proven significant in cutting costs from traditional glass-mirrored parabolic troughs. At SkyFuel, where Randy Gee is Chief Technology Officer, the company’s SkyTrough collectors are designed to deliver the reliability of traditional glass-mirrored parabolic troughs but with several economic and performance advantages, which stem largely from the use of ReflecTech film instead of sagged-glass mirrors. ReflecTech is not only significantly lighter

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ReﬂecTech ﬁlm on a SkyTrough solar collector.

in weight and less expensive than saggedglass mirrors, it will not break or shatter as glass can. ReflecTech mirror film comprises multiple layers of polymer films with an inner layer of pure silver to provide for high specular (mirror-like) reflectance. This special patented construction protects the silver layer from oxidation. The Solar Film also has a pressure sensitive adhesive protected by a peel-off liner, which allows application to smooth, non-porous surfaces. The ReflecTech film is laminated onto curved aluminum panels which are integrated into an aluminum space frame

to form the SkyTrough parabolic trough concentrator. The entire assembly is mounted on pylons and attached to a self-locking rotary hydraulic drive, which enables the SkyTrough to pivot and track the sun. For information on the DOE EERE Commercialization Team and collaborative opportunities with DOE’s National Laboratories on energy technology, visit www.eere.energy.gov. D. Drew Bond is the Director for Commercialization & Deployment, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy. (www.doe.gov.) EERE | www.eere.energy.gov NREL | www.nrel.gov ReflecTech, Inc | www.reflectechsolar.com SkyFuel, Inc. | www.skyfuel.com

Tube design eliminates racking problems

Your Key to Success in PV End-to-End Fab Solutions When you look at all the questions about the best solar module production technology, it helps to have a partner with a proven track record. Oerlikon Solar is a recognized world leader in thin film technology, offering innovative and proven end-to-end fab solutions for solar modules. We can provide you with all production steps including metrology and guaranteed production ramp up. Our goal is to secure your success with the lowest device cost per Wp. OC Oerlikon Balzers Ltd. Iramali 18 P.O. Box 1000 LI-9496 Balzers Tel +423 388 6474 Fax +423 388 5421 info.solar@oerlikon.com www.oerlikon.com/solar

Visit us at Solar Power International 2008 Expo 13 – 16 October San Diego Convention Center, Halls F – H Booth Number : 605

NEX generation racking systems are designed to reduce costs, as well as roof penetrations and mounting headaches. This system uses a patented tube design to eliminate problems encountered with standard mounting methods. NEX systems can be used in any racking configuration, including flat, flush, pole, ground, roof, or awning arrays, and the unique design features all the advantages of both round and square tubing. These systems are designed extremely strong and lightweight. The top of the rack is as low as 2.5 inches to bottom of modules for flat roof systems, and units are available in steel or anodized aluminum, and can be powder-coated. Next Generation Energy | www.ngeus.com

OG-300 certified solar domestic hot water packages These certified solar domestic hot water packages were designed in response to the numerous state incentive programs which have adopted SRCC OG-300 certification. They include all major components needed for domestic hot water applications and feature fast installation, reliability, efficiency and an aesthetic appearance, on the roof and in the house. Units are available in Premium as well as Slim Line packages which are designed for minimal visual impact on the roof. The Slim Line dark, anodized collector frames are barely two inches thick, and can be mounted flush on the roof. All packages are designed for North American conditions. Some key OG-300 collector features include: tempered glass inset a full half-inch into the corrosion-resistant frame; a highly selective absorber coating for high levels of thermal efficiency; low risk of leaking; and excellent flow control compared to conventional header/riser designs. Tanks include a cold water inlet and hot water outlet, and a relief valve and anode rod located at the top of the tank for easy access and installation. The Solar station and controllers with these units contain the pump and all valves in a single, integrated, pre-assembled package, and a SolarEZ mounting system makes for easy installation. Options include a charging station, collector strap and insulated double pipe line set and connection kit for fast connection. Schüco USA | www.schuco-usa.com North American Clean Energy

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solar energy

MicroCSP: making CSP cost-effective for any application by Darren Kimura, President / CEO, Sopogy, Inc.

he energy bills that have been considered recently by Congress offer both challenges and opportunities for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP). Some of the opportunities are obvious, particularly the recently defeated extension of renewable energy tax credits and provision of new research funds to further commercial applications of CSP. Less obvious, but potentially no less signiﬁcant for CSP, is the potential beneﬁt of a provision to establish a research and development program on solar air conditioning and natural gas reduction.

According to an analysis of the legislation conducted by CRA International for the American Petroleum Institute, the main challenge is that the net impact of the bills on the US economy would be a 4% drop in gross domestic product and a loss of some ﬁve million jobs by 2030. The main assumption underlying these projections is that a shift to renewable resources will inevitably raise the cost of energy so much that it will signiﬁcantly hurt the purchasing power of the average American consumer.

What’s missing from both the CRA analysis and the proposed legislation is the possibility of using CSP in distributed energy applications that could directly displace the use of fossil fuels in many thermal energy applications, as well as generate electricity for customers at costs competitive with retail utility rates. This new opportunity – now becoming a commercial reality – needs to be part of the national and international discussion about how to face the energy future.

MicroCSP technology; smaller-scale parabolic-trough solar collectors allow for use in areas where even only one acre of land is available.

Enter MicroCSP

Until recently, CSP was considered to be cost-effective only for utility-scale power generating facilities. Now, however, a new generation of CSP technology – dubbed MicroCSP – has been introduced that can provide thermal energy and/or electricity for a wide variety of small to mid-sized applications. Pioneered by Sopogy, Inc, MicroCSP is a highly modular technology which is particularly suitable for offsetting natural gas in agricultural and industrial applications. It can also be used by the electric power industry to provide supplemental heat to the makeup water in a power plant’s bottoming cycle, thus increasing overall efficiency and offsetting a plant’s use of natural gas. MicroCSP technology incorporates several design and manufacturing innovations that dramatically reduce the cost and increase the flexibility of concentrated solar energy applications. A particularly important breakthrough has been the development of smaller-scale parabolic-trough solar collectors that can be built at low-cost, using commonly available manufacturing facilities and commodity materials. The smaller scale systems allow for use in areas where even only one acre of land is available, rather than the thousands of acres required for its large-scale counterpart. In order to realize the benefits of displacing natural gas, MicroCSP technology is planned for demonstration at commercial scale in key applications. Sopogy has identified some particularly promising demonstration opportunities in California, which could provide substantial benefits to both the communities and business partners involved, as well as to the state as a whole. A 150 kW Sopogy pilot plant, for example, can prove the feasibility of using solar thermal energy to significantly reduce dependence on grid-based 24

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electricity and natural gas. Power can be generated from 150 kW up, while an absorption chiller can be as small as 5 tons, and process heat can be provided at temperatures from 250 to 400F. The time has come to take a much broader view of CSP. New opportunities include the use of small, non-utility CSP installations that beneﬁt individual customers directly. By providing both electricity and thermal energy, MicroCSP can make an important contribution to displacing fossil fuels at competitive prices at the retail level. SopoNova 4

In July, Sopogy introduced their new SopoNova 4, which combines features of its MicroCSP Parabolic Trough technology, including modularity, customized tracking, efficient shipping, storm protection, and automatic operation. “SopoNova 4 marks our 40th version of technology improvement,” says Darren T. Kimura. “In SopoNova 4 we’ve incorporated form and function with a visually appealing yet robust and cost effective concentrating solar collector.” SopaNova 4 features the unique ability to bring the efficiencies and cost of large parabolic trough technologies into a small and light-weight package, enabling installation in-ground or on rooftops. The heat generated by the concentrator can be used to power turbines or used directly for industrial process heating and solar cooling. Cost efficiencies are captured by operating in lower temperatures, enabling general contractor installation, high safety levels, and low-cost thermal energy storage. SopoNova 4 recently won the New Product of the Year Award at the National Society of Professional Engineers’ (NSPE) annual conference held in Portland, Oregon. Sopogy, Inc. | www.sopogy.com

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solar energy

Adding Value to PV Panels

In-panel monitoring is the trend to watch as dumb-panels turn smart by Dan Lee Vogler, President, Energy Semi Corporation

he Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market is projected to grow at a 30 +% CAGR over the next five years – from 53.5 million finished panels and modules in 2008 to over 198 million panels by 2013. This growth is driven by a new trend towards desert-based large utilityscale solar power projects, defined as greater than one MegaWatt at a single site and grid tie point. Compared to an average home rooftop system with only 10-20 panels, a 50 Megawatt (MVA) Solar Power Park (like the one now being planned in the West Texas “Big Bend”) would require over 500,000 units of 120

haystack scenario becomes an impossibility without monitoring within the array on a panel by panel basis. With panel and module life being extended from 25 year to 40 years and beyond, the long term value and revenue from the power produced by a solar panel is considerable. This considerable revenue now mandates in-panel electronics that provide individual panel by panel monitoring and total management of large arrays. In a nutshell, PV in-panel monitoring will become a signiﬁcant trend as dumb-panels turn into smart-panels –

side the junction box of PV panels and modules. The self powered board draws only 50 uA, while providing a robust command set of SCADA monitoring and control protocols adapted for solar. It is then sent via TCP/IP standard internet packets, and transmitted over RF using a ZIGBEE mesh network in the backend, for up to 8 million solar panels in one array. Using the new solar protocol – called “SIZ” (short for SCADA over IP over ZIGBEE) – as a needed open standards protocol, Energy Semi Corporation is inviting all module, panel, tracking and

PV in-panel monitoring will become a significant trend as dumb-panels turn into smart-panels – with on-board self-powered electronic communications living inside the junction box… Watt thin film PV panels to provide a 60 MW DC total design capacity. Although very reliable, thin film PV has predictable failure rates, and within such a large array, appreciable numbers of failures and maintenance needs. Because PV panels today are dumb-two terminal devices, the problem comes down to excessive time and labor cost to find, diagnose and replace the occasional single failed panel – out of 500,000. This needle-in-a-

with on-board self-powered electronic communications living inside the junction box. The in-panel solution

Energy Semi Corporation, of Austin, Texas has designed a solution with an in-panel OEM component called; “SOLAR SENTINEL”. This ASIC/SOC system is provided as an encapsulated board level product designed to go in-

inverter manufactures to participate in an open industry committee to evolve and adopt a single inter-panel protocol for the solar industry at large. The draft v0.2 “SIZ” protocol has over 30 commands and parameters, including everything from operating voltage, current, VOC, capacity, matching, tolerance, and grade, to numerous other twoway settings that anticipate future solar device monitoring and controls.

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Since 1994, Amonix high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) systems have generated gigawatt hours of electricity from the sun. Today, Amonix—the world leader in HCPV systems— is driving toward grid parity for utility-scale solar power.

The “SOLAR SENTINEL” In-Panel monitoring system is coupled with a backend polling computer, that sends and receives a report from each of 500,000 panels every 15 seconds. This gives a rapid report as to any one panel’s status or operating condition and history. A failed panel can be identiﬁed quickly and economically, and then replaced directly by a ﬁeld technician. Overcoming the mismatch

Energy Semiconductor Corporation has also developed a new product called “SOLAR MAXIMIZER”. This technology is an energy harvest system designed to overcome the mismatch effects in large arrays. Large Solar PV arrays and power project investors demand maximum return from capital investment. In a solar array, this equates to the maximum energy harvest – garnishing more KilowattHours and resultant aggregate capacity, and thus directly more revenue or savings from a project. Because a PV panel is a NON-ideal real world device – most simply modeled as a voltage source, two diodes, and two resistors – PV panels are in-fact, currentlimited voltage sources. Kirchhoff’s circuit laws dictate that we should never place two voltage sources in parallel or the slightest mismatch in voltages would cause an infinite amount of current to flow between them. Yet placing panels incorrectly in parallel has been standard practice for some three decades, and it works only because of the NON-ideal nature of a PV source. In an effort to increase array voltages, panels are often wired in series to add-up their voltage, but this series wiring schemes suffers compound series failures, commonly called the Christmas light effect. “SOLAR MAXIMIZER” is an in-panel electronics inversion system that overcomes the NON-ideal nature of a PV panel as a current limited voltage source. The technology instead presents the PV panel to the array as a more ideal voltage regulated current source with a 600 to 1,000 VDC float. This technology allows everything to wire in parallel at the bus bar of the inverter, giving a target 30% increase in KW-H energy harvest, compared to series-parallel schemes of the past. Energy Semi will debut it’s latest technology at the SEPA show in San Diego (Booth # 151) and ship in mid 2009. Energy Semi Corporation www.EnergySemi.com.

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solar energy

Intelligent Power Conversion: how the next generation of inverters will change the future of renewable energy production and distribution by Leo Casey, VP and CTO, Satcon Technology Corporation

he next generation of commercial and utility scale solar inverters will be the core enabling technologies for the growth of large scale distributed energy systems. Through a combination of increased capacity, improved output quality and advanced control features, these more powerful, efﬁcient and intelligent inverters will enable a stepped improvement in both the controllability and the overall performance of renewable energy production and distribution. They will also be critical elements in improving the performance of future renewable energy systems through advanced diagnostics and prognostics that will increase availability and minimize repair and maintenance requirements and cycles. There are three unique areas of opportunity that exist in alternative energy production, such as PV and Fuel Cells, that don’t in traditional turbine-driven generators powered by hydraulic or steam processes.

PowerGate Plus Inverters are the next generation of inverters for commercial and large-scale grid connected PV power systems. The 500kW PowerGate Plus Inverter incorporates many of the features of the original PowerGate Inverter, as well as several improvements that add further value to PV power systems.

Value added activity

Many alternative energy sources are direct current (DC) in nature, but with poorly regulated terminal characteristics. This requires efﬁcient power conversion, most commonly in the form of inverters, to change the energy into a regulated alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) voltage for utilization by the consumer or by utilities. This electronic interconnection point can then be used to harness value added activity. The inverter is by its very nature the intelligent device in the energy conversion and control system. It has the ability to sense a wide variety of conditions, store, process and react to these conditions and report them to a remote management system. The true value of the inverter as the intelligent component of the system has yet to be fully realized and will be increasingly important as the penetration of renewables increases over the coming years. The inverter can concentrate a wide variety of sensed data and either communicate this for remote analysis or correlate the data itself to benchmark the normal and detect or predict the abnormal in terms of system operation and performance. Diagnostics can be run within the inverter itself or on external hardware as well to determine state-of-health and likely causes of diminished performance, thus greatly enhancing the ability of maintenance personnel to arrive onsite equipped and prepared. VOLUME 2

Versatile functionality

ISSUE 4

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Life Without the Production Tax Credit And its affect on wind power

A new approach to CO2

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Renewable energy sources can have signiﬁcant output variation due to environmental factors such as intermittent wind and weather patterns. There are clear cycles where energy sources are able to contribute signiﬁcant production output and others when they are dormant. This differentiates them from the more linear production of traditional sources, which are ideal for base level

energy production, with the cyclical nature of alternative production, which ideally coincides with peak demand periods. Embracing this complimentary nature between base and peak level production traits, the challenge then becomes how to optimally manage these alternative energy systems so that each source produces maximum output across the longest power production period available. Inverters are capable of functionality well beyond that of transferring real power to the grid. This includes reactive power, phase balancing, harmonic cancellation and the like. If an inverter connecting a renewable energy source is underutilized, it can be an available resource to the utility as an active ﬁlter that can be under utility control. This dynamic reactive power is critical to grid voltage stability – as evidenced in the reports on the blackout of 2003. It is particularly valuable as a distributed resource, which is the form it arrives in for grid-connected inverters. Distribution and quality

Finally, there is the question of distribution and the overall quality of the energy itself. Alternative energy sources are often located away from population and load centers. This distributed dynamic extends across both the supply and demand sides of the energy network and places increased importance on the points of where the two sides connect – the inverter. The role of the inverter has two facets; ﬁrst, it is tasked with managing and extracting the maximum power from the input source; second, it is tasked with conditioning the power – putting clean and compliant AC power on the grid. Due to the electronic nature of the inverter, and the switching frequency which is many orders of magnitude higher than the line frequency, the quality of the output power can be exceptional.

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General machinery drive extended to 25 horsepower Inverters have the speed and the intelligence to be a powerful resource on the grid. They also have the communications so they can be aggregated and controlled in unison to effectively act as a large power plant or active power network device. High-speed, aggregated, distributed generation has proven to be extremely valuable in the modern power grid, even replacing spinning reserve requirements in certain locations. In this context gridconnected Inverters offer the ultimate in speed of response and controllability.

ABB’s ACS350 general machinery drives are designed to make it extremely easy for volume machine builders to increase average throughput time via an average two-second programming time per unit. The company has just extended ratings of the drives to 20 and 25 hp, at 480 volts. The units are RoHS-compliant, with coated boards, and are ideal for solar trackers. “This is more horsepower in a very compact R4-frame drive that offers extremely fast replication of parameter sets across units – and they are offered at very competitive pricing,” said Kathleen Watson, product manager for the ACS350 drive line. “The R0-R4 frame drives also accommodate easy, repeatable installation, with uniﬁed height and depth across the horsepower range. All that varies as the horsepower increases is that the drives get slightly wider.” ABB | www.abb.com

The next generation inverter

An important trend to acknowledge is the move towards large, multi-megawatt, renewable energy distributed generation systems. These large systems achieve economies of scale in terms of installed cost, enhanced efficiencies from large scale interconnect and inverters, as well as more efficient grid integration through direct medium voltage interconnection. Because electronics are capable of acting much faster than traditional grid-connected devices, there is an understandable concern about the effect of grid-connected inverters on the stability of the grid. Strong interconnection regulations, such as UL1741 and IEEEP1547, have been developed to specify and control this interconnection. The high-speed nature of the inverter has acted as an encumbrance in terms of the majority of the interconnection requirements, which are orders of magnitude tighter than for thermal power plants. A shift in attitudes and requirements is extremely likely as penetration grows, as evidenced by the “ride-thru” requirements that have emerged for grid-connected wind, replacing the interconnection requirements that still apply to other renewable and distributed resources. Rather than trip off during grid disturbances, it will become increasingly important that renewable resources ridethru these disturbances. They will need to be capable of operating in “islanded” conditions under utility control, and to operate in microgrid mode with the addition of complementary generation, storage or real-time load control. The next generation inverter will be the glue that ties renewable or alternative energy sources such as PV or Fuel Cells to the utility grid. It will become the interconnect that supplies distributed intelligence to a power system. The next generation will be high-speed, large scale, offer additional active-filter features, and be remotely controlled. The ingredients are in place – grid integration and integration into utility SCADA systems are the logical next steps to make inverters a true and invaluable utility asset. Satcon Technology Corporation www.satcon.com North American Clean Energy

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solar energy

solar news briefs Draker Laboratories has announced a series of partnerships and the securing of a signiﬁcant investment. The development includes strategic alliances with Campbell Scientiﬁc and the Nathaniel Group as well as investments from FreshTracks Capital II L.P and the state of Vermont through its Clean Energy Development Fund. According to Draker, the company is now on track to complete the development of a next generation renewable energy monitoring product, scheduled to be unveiled at the Solar Power 2008 conference in San Diego this October.

Sopogy, Inc. broke ground this summer at Keahole Solar Power, a Concentrated Solar Power farm at the National Energy Laboratory on the Island of Hawaii. The solar farm will be built in phases over several acres and

is the first of its kind in the world to make large-scale use of Hawaii-based Sopogy’s proprietary MicroCSP solar concentrating systems. “Our leading edge MicroCSP solar research began in Kona in 2002 with one concentrating system and it is appropriate that Kona is the home for the world’s first deployment of a MicroCSP solar field,” said Darren Kimura, President and CEO, Sopogy, Inc.

GE Energy Financial Services and Grupo Corporativo Landon announced at the end of July, that they will invest approximately US $350 million (€225 million) in Fotowatio, one of Spain’s largest and most successful solar power project developers. Fotowatio owns, operates and is developing almost 960 megawatts of solar projects

in the fast-growing solar power markets of Spain, Italy and the US. “By facilitating the growth of one of the solar industry’s leading developers, this investment gives us immediate access to attractive solar markets in Europe and the US, and will form an important part of GE’s broader strategy to become a major player in solar power,” said Alex Urquhart, President and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services.

The Canadian Solar Industries Association welcomed new member The Home Depot Canada Inc. earlier this year, noting the company is the ﬁrst major retailer to join its ranks. “CanSIA is very pleased The Home Depot sees the value in our mandate and has joined us in giving voice to the solar industry’s issues,” said Elizabeth McDonald, CanSIA Executive Director. The Home Depot Canada has had a solar array installation at its Woodbridge, Ontario store since June, 2007. This 23-kilowatt solar PV system has generated more than 33,000 kilowatt hours since then. The company also installs solar panels, solar water heaters and solar swimming pool heaters for its customers.

Spire Corporation announced recently that it has received a contract from Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) to provide critical test equipment for their certiﬁcation operations in both the US and China. UL is the primary entity for certifying module design and performance in the US, and according to the company, all modules produced anywhere in the world will require UL approval for commercial sale in the country. Spire’s contract involves providing UL with multiple Spi-Sun Simulator 4600 Single Long Pulse systems. Schletter Inc., has started its ﬁrst US operations in Tucson, AZ . The company has operated more than 40 years in the design and manufacturing of steel and aluminum products, and has supplied utilitysized PV-projects such as the world’s largest PV-system (40 MW) near Leipzig, Germany. The Tucson facility offers everything from design and development to manufacturing of Schletter products.

aimex-solar GmbH (aimex), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ersol Solar Energy AG (ersol), has changed its name to ersol Crystalline Modules GmbH”. The new name is in 30

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effect from 1 August 2008, and is meant to reﬂect the products marketed by the company formerly known as aimex.

ZBB Energy Corporation announced recently that it has executed an MOU with Envision Solar International to provide energy storage systems as part of the “LifeVillage” solar project in Cote d’Ivoire on the west coast of Africa. LifeVillage will incorporate ZBB’s energy storage system along with roof mounted photovoltaic panels designed to provide a reliable source of electric power to remote areas. The system is a complete modularized solution that is durable and long-lasting, deployable via truck to virtually anywhere on the continent. The prototype for the LifeVillage project is scheduled to be completed by ZBB and Envision by the beginning of October. The prototype will be built and initially demonstrated in the United States and then shipped to Cote d’Ivoire.

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. announced the signing of a two-year agreement with Enel.si, a subsidiary of Enel, Italy’s largest power company, to supply 30MW of PV modules in late 2008 and 2009. “This agreement with Enel.si is in-line with our strategy to establish mutually beneﬁcial, long-term relationships with companies that are well positioned to service the growing demand for solar energy,” said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech’s Chairman and CEO. “Enel.si, which has a strong marketing and sales network in Italy based on a franchise installer network, is an ideal partner for Suntech and we look forward to building our relationship in the future.”

Conergy Korea, subsidiary of Conergy AG, announced in August a framework agreement for a 4.35 MWp extension (worth approximately €20 million) of Asia’s largest, recently completed photovoltaic plant (19.6 MWp) in SinAn, located southwest of Seoul. The 19,6 MWp project (worth a total of €90 million) was fully operational in June 2008, six months ahead of schedule. Based on this engineering achievement, Conergy was awarded the turnkey construction of the additional 4.35 MWp. The extension of Asias Largest Solar Power Plant to 24 MWp is expected to be fully grid-connected before the year is over, marking a major milestone for Korea in becoming a worldwide leader in clean energy.

nacleanenergy.com

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VLSI introduces ﬁrst solar calibration product

Profiler specifically designed for solar cell manufacturing KIC has announced the release of a thermal profiler that is specifically designed for the unique needs and challenges of the PV industry. The SunKIC benefits from several hardware and software innovations designed to help solar cell manufacturers better manage their thermal processes and increase solar cell efficiency. SunKIC features a compact form factor to pass through tight furnace tunnel clearance, and easy-to-use, powerful analytical software for quick and convenient profiling. Additionally, KIC’s Process Window Index (PWI) instantly confirms whether a profile is acceptable, and SunKIC comes standard with a prediction feature that helps solar cell manufacturers improve upon furnace set points as well as their thermal process in general.

Concurrent with the opening of its NVLAP-accredited solar calibration lab in San Jose, CA, VLSI Standards, Inc. has announced the release of its first solar calibration product: The Solar Reference Cell. This product is designed to be used by solar manufacturers to monitor and calibrate solar simulators, which are critical in determining the efficiency of production solar cells and panels. The company will also offer certifications of customer-supplied reference cells. “The Solar Reference Cell and the services provided by our new Solar Calibration Laboratory will allow solar manufacturers to gain greater quality control of the output of their factories by greatly increasing their measurement accuracy,” said Dr. Marco Tortonese, President of VLSI Standards. VLSI Standards, Inc. | www.vlsistandards.com

400 exhibitors | 15,000 visitors | 1,600 conference attendees

inter

solar

North America

KIC | www.kicthermal.com

New series of dry roughing pumps Alcatel Vacuum Technology has introduced a new series of dry roughing pumps derived from their successful line of semiconductor dry pumps. Following the proven and robust mulit-Roots, high impedance lobe design, Alcatel’s new Adixen brand ADKL and ADKH range primary pumping packages meet the pumping requirements of high volume load locks and transfer chambers as well as process modules. “This was not simply a matter of scaling up of a previous design” says project manager Bertrand SEIGEOT. “Provisions for temperature management, power management, and manufacturability of such large pumps required a signiﬁcant new design effort. And we’ve added new features such as standby and boost modes to help conserve energy. We are conﬁdent that our new product range will provide the performance, reliability, operating cost, and safety required to give the new PV industry what it needs to succeed.” Alcatel Vacuum Products, Inc. www.adixen-usa.com

July 14 –16, 2009 San Francisco | California | Moscone Center EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE P H OTO V O LTA I C S | S O L A R T H E R M A L T E C H N O L O G Y | S O L A R A R C H I T E C T U R E

Fast Facts: Intersolar North America 2008 With 210 exhibitors and more than 13,000 trade visitors from 87 countries, the inaugural Intersolar North America exhibition was a rousing success. First look: Intersolar North America 2009 The partnership between Intersolar North America and SEMICON West continues with a larger Intersolar North America 2009. The significantly expanded show will have double the number of exhibitors, an even more comprehensive conference program and many more accompanying programs.

Reserve your exhibition space today and secure a place with the international solar industry!

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Solar Power International 2008

Show in Print Features just some of the companies and technologies attendees will see at this year’s show.

October 13-16, 2008, San Diego Convention, CA

www.solarpowerconference.com Formerly known as Solar Power, America’s largest solar industry event was recently renamed Solar Power International to reﬂect the enormous international participation and global scope of the conference and expo. This year, over 420 exhibitors and over 60 conference sessions will offer the latest in industry market, policy, ﬁnance, and technology news and information.

Expansion of PV module and inverter testing labs A leader in testing, inspection, and certification, Intertek has announced the expansion of its PV module and inverter testing laboratories and capabilities. Opening new PV testing labs in Orange County, CA, and Shanghai, China, Intertek is also adding a new photovoltaic module testing chamber in Cortland, NY. This growth will enable PV manufacturers around Securing freethe world to design, test, certify, and deploy their next-gener- standing PV plants ation products faster than ever before. A specialist in earth anchoring, terrafix is Intertek | www.intertek-etlsemko.com a leading manufacturer and service proBooth 1242 vider to the solar industry in Europe. As of 2009, terrafix groundworks corporation will be available to serve the entire US. Having secured over 80 MW of free-standing PV parks, terrafix’s uses the soil structure and density to design various anchor models. With tried-and-tested static load tests, anchors are checked to deliver the highest safety margins and service lives are assessed in line with the soil’s corrosiveness. Designed to last at least 25 years, the anchors are ideal for use in all types of ground, but particularly in areas with seismic activity. With its own anchor production line in California, and powerful screw-twist technology, terrafix is able to position around 300 anchor points per item of Join the Revolution equipment within a day – this means a Others in the solar thermal and construction time of less than one week photovoltaic power industry have is possible for a one-megawatt system. already experienced the advantages of using in-line galvanized steel profiles from Allied for mounting their products.

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ThinkSolar | www.thinksolar-us.com Booth 1542

Residential and commercial BIPV roofing systems Profitable hot water systems A UMA Solar Company, Solene offers hot water systems that work in nearly every climate, and typically pay for themselves in just five years, leaving 15 to 20 more years of lower utility bills. Aside from reducing energy costs, Solene features a comprehensive warranty and the highest BTU ratings in the industry, along with full dealer marketing support. Federal tax credits and State incentives are now also available. Solene | www.solene-usa.com Booth 950

ThinkSolar is bringing Europe’s popular mounting system to America – AluTec, the adjustable, easy-insertion rail system. AluTec shortens installation times, evenly distributes load, eliminates the need for mid clamps, and conforms to most common module frames. Designed by Creotecc GmbH in Germany, AluTec is the result of sustained ﬁeld experience and input from expert installers. Modules are inserted between parallel horizontal rails, which attach to multiple surfaces, pitched or ﬂat roofs, and ground mounts.

terraﬁx | www.terrafix.us

In-line galvanizing differs from secondary operations such as batch hot-dip galvanizing. This advanced processing technique provides three layers of corrosion protection creating finished goods directly from the production line.

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Adjustable PV mounting system

Open Energy is strategically focused on the development and commercialization of a portfolio of solar technologies capable of delivering clean power and related commodities on a global basis. The company produces award-winning, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) rooﬁng systems for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Marketed under the trade name SolarSave, their current product line includes tiles, rooﬁng membranes, and custom architectural glass panels, as well as integrated inverters and web-based monitoring systems. Open Energy Corporation www.openenergycorp.com Booth 325

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High-efﬁciency central inverter SMA America, Inc. has unveiled its next generation central inverter for commercial PV systems, Sunny Central 250U. Available immediately, this updated unit delivers industry-leading efﬁciency (97% by CEC-weighting standards), along with an integrated isolation transformer, and an updated user interface with an intuitive graphical LCD display. Sunny Central 250U offers a graphical readout of daily plant production, and status of the PV array, inverter, and utility grid. Compatible with industrystandard building management and energy service software protocols, Sunny Central also integrates easily into energy-aware infrastructures.

PV diaphragms Suppliers of PV Laminators with Steinbach Silicone Diaphragms from Germany, Smartech stocks both Steinbach’s high quality solid silicone, as well as their patented Lamibran two-ply diaphragm. Lamibran has proven its value, durability, and longevity with a patented second layer that does not deteriorate when exposed to outgassing from EVA ﬁlm like standard silicone does. Steinbach will quickly manufacture a speciﬁc size, and can arrange to stock what customers need for convenience of prompt delivery times.

Self-adhesive commercial solar module A leading provider of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products, Lumeta offers a PowerPly module for low-slope commercial buildings and high-density, multi-family homes. Incorporating design expertise from parent group DRI Companies and its team of roofing technicians and solar engineers, Lumeta’s PowerPly utilizes high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells, and a fully adhered attachment method to avoid roof penetrations and mounting structures; thereby, reducing installation time by about 50% and installation costs by about 70%. Lumeta also offers residential solar S Tile and Flat Tile products that simulate the shape of clay and concrete profiled roof tiles. Lumeta Solar | www.lumetasolar.com Booth 427

Smartech International www.smartechonline.com Booth 1151

SMA America www.sma-america.com Booth 1031

Pre-assemembled, pluggable connectors Wieland’s family of PST 40i1 connectors provide pluggable connections on the solar inverter’s DC side over extended cable runs. Featuring a 40A DC capability and superior contact conductivity, these connectors satisfy a trend toward increased input on solar string inverters. The IP 68 ingress protection rating ensures operation in harsh conditions. Pre-assembled, either at the factory or onsite, Wieland’s connectors feature easy handling, mate compatibility with industry standard types, UV-resistance, and high conductivity. They are also tested and delivered ready to install, replacing conventional onsite requirements (such as cutting cables to length, stripping cable sheaths and wire insulation, and component connection), which reduces errors and installation time. Wieland Inc. | www.wielandinc.com Booth 1244

Visit us at Solar Power Int’l Expo

Forecast and design of technologically intensive facilities M+W Zander’s Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) deploys a set of powerful software tools that streamline the design and construction of technologically intensive facilities. Facility owners often have intense economic pressure to control costs, execute quickly, and construct facilities that meet current and future requirements. VDC enables full facility data sets to be generated during a design process. Comprehensive building information allows forecasting successive expansions, and matching of facility utilization with long-term planning. Different scenarios can be fully viewed and weighed for streamlined decision-making, while upfront planning has been proven to reduce costs of development and construction while controlling operating costs. M+W Zander www.mw-zander.com Booth 2030

Your job is to protect the investment. Q. Which characteristic is most important when selecting overcurrent protection for a PV array?

Know the answer? Take the Ferraz Shawmut Protection Intelligence Quotient (PIQ) Test and quiz your knowledge on questions like this. AND—enter to win: A $300 gas card (three winners will be drawn). See all the details* and take the test at the Solar Power Int’l Expo booth #2201. *No purchase necessary to enter. Offer expires 12/31/08. Void where prohibited. Card is issued by First National Bank of Omaha pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Card can be used for gas and at millions of locations that accept Visa debit cards.

Technically, you design, specify and build solar power systems. But your real profession is protection—against the electrical hazards that can hurt people and equipment. Your customers don’t just trust you; they rely on you to protect their investment. So trust Ferraz Shawmut to give you the products and the knowledge to be a real protection pro. Ferraz Shawmut, your safest connection for circuit protection.

T: 978-462-6662 F: 978-462-0181 us.ferrazshawmut.com

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Higher functioning Financial solutions solar water heating for energy projects EnerWorks brings a new level of functionality to solar water heating with its Thermal Energy Controller and Thermal Energy Monitor. As part of a residential solar water heating appliance, Thermal Energy Controller is integrated into an Energy Pack that is mounted on a solar hot water storage tank. It directs and monitors the appliance, ensuring optimized performance, and controls the pump within the appliance, enabling future inclusion of secondary applications such as pool or space heating. Portable or wall-mounted, the wireless Thermal Energy Monitor is included with the appliance and communicates directly with the Controller. At the touch of a button, users can scroll through output displays including daily, monthly, yearly, and lifetime dollar savings, energy production, and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, as solar energy displaces traditional fuel sources. EnerWorks Solar Water Heating www.enerworks.com Booth 931

National City Energy Capital specializes in providing flexible financing solutions for all types of vendor generated, energyrelated projects for corporations, federal, state, and local governments throughout the US. As a leading lessor of energy-efficient equipment/systems with an office in Valencia, CA, and corporate headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, the company provides comprehensive, nationwide financial solutions to the ESCO community. National City Energy Capital is active in the federal, municipal and commercial markets with transactions (including loans, capital and operating leases, energy services agreements and performance contracts) ranging from $100,000 to $100,000,000. With funded projects that include lighting and HVAC retrofits, distributed generation, central plants, PV cells, water treatment and conservation systems, there is also an on-line application-only leasing program for transactions under $100,000. National City Energy Capital www.nc-4.com/ener Booth 1647

Cable sockets and plugs for PV systems

Simulation program for solar thermal systems

Hirschmann Automation and Control, Inc. has added new cable sockets and cable plugs to their SunCon connector system. These components include an integrated gasket, and are designed for cables with a diameter of 4.2 to 5.2mm. As sockets and plugs for cables with a diameter of 5 to 6 mm are already offered, PV systems with all the common cable thicknesses can now be contacted with the SunCon system. Engineered for a temperature range of -400 to +1100 Celsius, Hirschmann’s cable sockets and plugs have a compact design and a contact resistance of less than 5mohm. They also have a rated voltage of 1000 V DC and a rated current between 23 and 30 Ampere. The correct contacting is signaled by an audible click, ruling out accidental interruption of the circuit.

T*SOL Professional’s Version 4.5 is a simulation program for design and planning of solar thermal systems, which includes seven new system configurations. Three of these configurations are for process heating applications, which allow users to freely define the flow and return temperatures. It is now also possible to define a solar system that delivers energy dependent on the application’s temperature level and volumetric flow rate. Another three system configurations can be simulated with two independent collector arrays, and an additional system allows exclusive simulation of supporting space heating. Improved program features include additions of the Energy Balance Schematic to the Project Report and the Detailed Project Report. T*SOL Professional 4.5 is delivered as a multilingual version with free demos available for download.

Hirschmann Automation and Control, Inc. www.hirschmann-usa.com Booth 1528

Valentin EnergieSoftware www.valentin.de Booth 801

Single-axis solar structure DEGERenergie GmbH’s single-axis TOPtraker 40NT extends the company’s product range with a larger sized, low-cost system for open land installations, while targeting medium to big sized PV parks. TOPtraker 40NT is designed for a power output of 4.000 to 6.400 Wp, and offers a module surface of up to 40 m2 so all popular types of solar modules can be mounted. Several versions are available with different inclination angles, ranging from 00 to 300 for various latitudes of installation. DEGERenergie www.DEGERenergie.com Booth 801 34

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Monitoring PV systems

Laser edge isolation

Tracking charge controllers

Monitoring Homerun Combiner Box helps ensure PV system reliability and long-term operations. In addition to typical combiner box fuse protection, each string of solar modules is monitored for an accurate view of system performance. With Monitoring Homerun Combiner Box, the Draker Labs data acquisition suite presents a visual understanding of system operation, maintenance, and long-term performance metrics. Draker Labs Sentalis 1000 data acquisition suite is optimally conﬁgured to receive data, present real-time operating results, and alarms a user if a system fault occurs and where to locate the problem. ETL Listed to UL1741, Monitoring Homerun Combiner Box is housed in a NEMA 4X, UV resistant ﬁberglass enclosure, is suited for output to a 100 Amp fuse or disconnect, and is rated for full current output with a broad temperature window (-25 to 50 degrees C).

Adding to its Metallization Line Portfolio, ASYS introduces Laser Edge Isolation System SEI01. With a throughput of 1,200 cells per hour, SEI01 makes use of a long lifetime fibre laser to scribe the isolation groove along the cell contours. An advanced optical system automatically helps to exclude any defects like chippings from the active cell surface. SEI01 also features a temperature stabilized galvo system to guarantee high repeatability and accuracy of the laser groove, and a special exhaust system has been developed to ensure all safety and clean room requirements are fulfilled. SEI01 will also be available in a dual lan configuration to handle up to 2,200 cells per hour.

All Blue Sky Energy controllers employ patented Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology that can increase charge current up to 30% compared to non-MPPT controllers. Recently updated, Solar Boost 3024iL is ETL/cETL listed, CE labeled, and FCC certified. 3024iL is rated for 30 amps in 24 volt systems, or 40 amps in 12 volt systems. It includes a 20 amp load controller, which can also provide finely adjustable lighting control. Blue Sky Energy’s IPN network interface is included, allowing multiple controllers to operate as a single coordinated charging machine. All controllers comprise reverse polarity, transient voltage, over temperature protection, and are specified for operation to 40°C, or to 60°C with de-rating.

ASYS Group | www.asys-group.com Booth 1633

Blue Sky Energy, Inc. www.blueskyenergyinc.com Booth 1034

Blue Oak Energy www.blueoakenergy.com Booth 542

SunWize Grid-Tie Systems contain everything needed for a successful installation in one package including top-quality components such as UniRac SolarMount or Sharp On-Energy ﬂush PV racks, as well as SMA, Fronius, and Xantrex inverters, and other necessary hardware and electrical components. Complete permit-ready documentation contains drawings, installation guide, warranties, and an operation/owner’s manual. Traditionally, residential solar electric systems involve design, documentation, sourcing of individual components, off-site receiving, truck loading, and one-of-a-kind onsite installation. This method is complex, prone to error, and time-consuming. SunWize Grid-Tie System packages offer a simpler approach, saving installers time and money. SunWize Technologies Inc. www.sunwize.com Booth 1709

Lead-free PV modules

Financial incentives for new solar projects California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) is San Diego region’s nonprofit program administrator of the California Solar Initiative (CSI). In 2006, the state of California, under leadership Micro-inverter of Governor Schwarzenegger and the California Public Utilities Commission, system Enphase’s Energy Micro-inverter Sysset a goal of creating 3,000 MW of new tem includes micro-inverters, commusolar facilities by 2017, also creating finications gateways, and advanced webnancial incentives to make this happen. based analytics and visualization. This Through CCSE’s CSI marketing and integrated system maximizes energy outreach efforts, the San Diego region harvest, increases system reliability, and has contributed substantially to the govsimplifies design, installation, and manernor’s goal. Last year the CSI program agement. Compared to a string inverter reserved more than $59 million and system, Energy Micro-inverter generates paid out more than $4 million in com5% to 25% more energy harvest, and mercial, government/non-profit, and offers a balance-of-system (BOS) savings residential solar incentives for the year. of 13% to 17%. Designed for residenThe CSI program reserved more than tial and commercial markets, the solar 19 MW of solar and completed more energy management systems are widely than 370 projects installing a total of 2.8 available through leading solar installers MW, accomplishing three years worth of goals in 2007 alone. and distribution partners. Enphase Energy www.enphaseenergy.com Booth 1723

Grid-tie systems for residential and commercial installations

Mitsubishi Electric’s PV systems are used globally to bring clean, reliable energy to residences, business, power-generation plants, schools, factories, and areas without access to electricity. They are also used in other applications such as for highway and stadium lighting. While traditional lead-solder modules use about 860 grams of lead, Mitsubishi Electric uses 100% lead-free solder in their PV modules. Mitsubishi Electric Solar | www.mitsubishielectricsolar.com Booth 748

Center for Sustainable Energy California www.energycenter.org North American Clean Energy

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Pre-insulated pipe for transfer of solar thermal energy Supplying pre-insulated pipe to municipal, mining, HVAC, and industrial sectors for over 35 years, Urecon introduces two systems designed speciďŹ cally for transfer of solar thermal energy. Urecon Solar Pipe is ideal for above or below ground, and consists of small-diameter copper pipe, polyurethane insulation, as well as a tough, UV resistant PE jacket. The rigid piping is joined using simple, quick-connect couplers (or standard solder), and ďŹ ttings are factory insulated. CU-Flex is a single or dual-format ďŹ&#x201A;exible, insulated copper (or PEX) pipe shipped in coils. Simply roll it out in the trench and backďŹ ll â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no connections are required. Versatile, rugged, and built to last, both systems are made with factory applied polyurethane foam insulation for superior thermal performance, resulting in minimal heat loss. Either way, the pipe arrives onsite and ready to assemble. Urecon | www.urecon.com PEX-Flex | www.pexflex.net Booth 1552

Utility-scale solar power plants

Backsheet technology containing PVF polymer

eSolar develops and constructs utility-scale Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants. An eSolar power plant utilizes small mirrors, or heliostats, which track the sun with high precision and reďŹ&#x201A;ect sunlight to a tower-mounted thermal receiver. Focused heat boils water in a thermal receiver, producing enough steam to power a traditional turbine and generate solar electricity. This approach combines a low-impact, pre-fabricated form factor with advanced optics and computer software engineering to meet the demands of utilities of any size for clean, renewable, and cost-competitive solar energy. By focusing on the key business obstacles that have characterized large solar installations from its inception â&#x20AC;&#x201C; price, scalability, speed of deployment, and grid impact â&#x20AC;&#x201C; eSolar has developed a uniquely modular and scalable solution that delivers solar energy.

DuPont has developed a proprietary technology to produce backsheet containing DuPont Tedlar polyvinyl ďŹ&#x201A;uoride (PVF) polymer in a single step. The company has also signed a Technology Licensing Agreement with Toppan Inc. Printing Co. LTD, located in Tokyo, Japan, to commercialize backsheet for PV modules using this new technology. Commercialization of the new product from Toppan is expected in 2010. This new backsheet technology is complementary to DuPontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuing activities to increase the supply of Tedlar ďŹ lms to meet the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth and demand for Tedlar. Increasing capacity continues to be the top priority for the business, and DuPont will continue to communicate further developments related to Tedlar ďŹ lm expansion planning in the future.

eSolar | www.esolar.com Booth 2209

Solar mounting systems

DuPont http://photovoltaics.dupont.com Booth 1600

5IF GBTUFTU DFSUJmDBUJPO GPS 17 NPEVMFT OPX IBT B OFX BEESFTT 8JUI UIF PQFOJOH PG JUT OFX 17 UFTUJOH MBC JO 0SBOHF $PVOUZ $" *OUFSUFL EFMJWFST PO B GPVS NPOUI UFTU DZDMF GPS 17 NPEVMFT #FBU ZPVS DPNQFUJUPST UP NBSLFU BOE JODSFBTF SFWFOVF QPUFOUJBM

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Schletter inc. 2520N. Jackrabbit Ave. Tucson, AZ 85745 Tel.: +1 (520) 618 0172 Fax: +1 (520) 618 0173 mail@schletter-inc.us www.schletter-inc.us

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5P MFBSO NPSF WJTJU VT BU 4PMBS1PXFS CPPUI XXX JOUFSUFL FUMTFNLP DPN

Solar panel handling solution Shuttleworthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience in the disk drive and semi-conductor industry has been instrumental in developing solutions for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emerging solar industry. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conveyor systems are used in a wide range of applications that require a clean environment and gentle handling of delicate, high-value products. The conveyorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface can be customized to gently convey large, ďŹ&#x201A;at sheets of glass typically used in the manufacturing of solar panel modules. Each system can be designed to interface easily with robots and other automation equipment, and a number of custom devices and mechanisms can be integrated into a conveyor surface to stop, transfer, rotate, or raise panels for inspection. Shuttleworth, Inc. www.shuttleworth.com

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show in print High performance solar cells

Thin ﬁlm PV modules

Large component enclosures

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. develops state-of-the-art, thin film PV modules with substrate materials, which are more flexible and affordable than most traditional solar panels. Ascent Solar modules can be directly integrated into standard building materials, space applications, consumer electronics for portable power, or configured as standalone modules for large scale terrestrial deployment. The ccmpany has begun development of the key production tools that will support its planned 30 MWscale production line, scheduled for completion in 2009.

FIBOX Enclosures has expanded its ARCA enclosure product line with two new sizes: 18 x 16 x 10” D and 16 x 14 x 8” D. These additional sizes expand ARCA’s product family to accommodate larger components and high power applications. The enclosures are ideal for clean energy applications including combiner boxes and inverters in solar systems, as well as nacelles for wind power systems. Stylized ARCA enclosures, manufactured using injection molded polycarbonate, a high performance plastic, offer ease of customization, robustness, superior chemical resistance, and wide temperature range. Available in seven standard interior sizes, ranging from 6 x 6 x 4" D to 18 x 16 x 10" D, all sizes are UL Listed and NEMA rated Type 4, 4X, 12, and 13.

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. www.ascentsolar.com Booth 729

Day4 Energy Inc., a leading manufacturer of high performance, costeffective solar electric modules, announced that it has achieved a breakthrough in its R&D program focused on design and development of high performance solar cells. After months of research and experimental trials, the company has developed a design and manufacturing process for its Generation II solar cells, with efficiency up to 19% on mono-crystalline and 18% on multicrystalline silicon materials. This design constitutes a significant improvement, not only in maximum efficiency but also in low-cost manufacturing and lower commercialization risk. Day4 Energy expects to fast-track commercial scale-up of its high performance PV cell technology over the next 18 months, and is currently in discussions with a number of partners in respect to this process. The company has recently filed a patent application in connection with this invention. Day4 Energy Inc. | www.day4energy.com Booth 1439

FIBOX Enclosures www.fiboxusa.com Booth 1243

3PL service provider The RK Logistics Group plans, consults, and executes transportation, warehousing, and distribution programs for renewable energy companies. Working with manufacturers, distributors, and commercial or residential installers, the company sees customers through supply chain requirements, providing immediate solutions that are priced competitively and service oriented. The RK Logistics Group is a “Top 100” 3PL service provider (for two consecutive years), focused on the best interest of customers. With over 65 years of experience, the Group was built from the ground up with an underlying foundation of integrity, honor, and trust. The RK Logistics Group provides a full range of comprehensive services including truckload, ocean, airfreight, L-T-L, warehousing, pick and pack/order fulﬁllment, logistics, and project management.

Eco-friendly transportation Cruise Car Inc. is a leading provider of environmentally friendly transportation solutions to a wide variety of universities, corporations, municipalities, military bases, and resorts worldwide. These solar electric hybrids allow for extended battery life, offer a 45 to 60 mile driving range, plus many of the 50+ models are available in a street legal version. Those purchasing these low speed (25mph) vehicles also qualify for a 30% federal tax credit, and good karma – these vehicles are second-to-none when it comes to their limited carbon footprint. Cruise Car, Inc. www.cruisecarinc.com Booth 1919

The RK Logistics Group, Inc. www.rkgllc.com Booth 651 North American Clean Energy

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Grid-tie solar Off-grid PC power inverters and supply monitoring software Apollo Solar SPC 120/240 Solar Power

Distribution PV Module long manifold with built-in pulse simulations ﬂow meters systems

A North American market leader for solar inverters, Xantrex Technology Inc.’s product line includes three phase grid-tie solar inverters (GT30, GT100, and GT250), single phase grid-tie inverters (GT2.8-GT5.O), and off-grid and battery based inverter/chargers (Xantrex XW System and Trace inverter/charger). The company also offers a Xantrex Gateway monitoring system, which features wireless connectivity and an innovative solar monitoring software solution for single-phase GT and XW Series inverters.

Caleffi introduces TwistFlow Distribution Manifold, updating the already proven 668 series with built-in sight flow gages. These new, sight-flow gages are integrated with adjustable balancing valves, allowing for accurate 1/4-2 gpm flow rate adjustment to each circuit by reading the flow rate on an integral graduated scale. This simplifies and speeds up circuit calibration without cumbersome reference graphs. Standard models are available in 3 to 13 circuit configurations, with 1" or 1-1/4" NPT inlet ball valves, with 150 psi maximum working pressure, and 1800F maximum working temperature.

Xantrex Technology Inc. www.xantrex.com Booth 1513

Center is a complete off-grid PV power supply, fully wired, tested, and ready for quick installation. Installers need only connect the PV input, battery cables, and AC load. An inverter, charge controller, and all circuit breakers are inside a single enclosure. SPC features include: TrueSineWave Split Phase Inverter, T80 MPPT Charge Controller, SPC front-panel System Display, and integral DC and AC breakers, Ground Fault Protection, Lightning Arrestors, and generator start/operation capability – all in a clean, compact 3-foot x 2-foot enclosure that stands only 9 inches from the wall. SPC also includes the Apollo Solar patent-pending MPPT energy harvest and built-in TriMetric battery (stateof-charge metering in a single unit can process up to 5300 watts of PV power). SPC 120/240 is the turn-key solution for remote, off-grid PV applications.

Calefﬁ | www.caleffi.us Booth 1932

EYE Lighting International www.eyelighting.com Booth 1838

Apollo Solar | www.apollosolar.com Booth 1713

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EYE Lighting International of North America, a subsidiary of Iwasaki Electric Co. Ltd., announced a new family of Long Pulse PV panel performance test systems. Engineered to fulfill customer requirements, the systems are designed for testing both crystalline and thin film PV modules. As more thin film PV products are introduced, requirement for high quality, long pulse simulation systems will dramatically increase. The programmable pulse duration and acquisition delay overcome an inherent problem some thin film PV materials experience when illuminated with short pulses. EYE / Iwasaki utilized its 60 years of experience in developing this unique optical system. The exceptional spectral concurrence to the IEC AM1.5 irradiance distribution standard guarantees accurate results, regardless of PV module band-gap.

www.SolisEnergy.com

407.339.6786

PV smart-card and micro-inverter Accurate Solar Power offers a state of the art smart-card that allows building owners and managers to comply with anticipated safety code regulation changes. This is achieved through individual panel-by-panel monitoring that enables module isolation upon command. Smartcard is designed to reduce fire and electric shock hazards posed by live wires on roofs, a major threat to those in charge of regular system maintenance or firefighters responding to emergency situations. Accurate Solar Power’s micro-inverter boosts system performance and allows installation flexibility in shaded and multi-orientation locations in addition to reducing labor installation costs. All products offer bundled revenue grade monitoring solutions to track individual module and overall system performance. Accurate Solar Power is a division of Newdoll Enterprises. Accurate Solar Power www.accuratesolarpower.com Booth 2050

nacleanenergy.com 6/25/08 10:24:49 AM 9/6/08 7:10:55 PM

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Solar monitor for real-time data

Pollycrystalline PV modules

Residential grid-tie PV inverters

Integrating design with PV systems

A89DC-08 Solar Current Monitor (SCM) from Obvius provides users of PV solar arrays with direct access to information on the performance of their renewable energy generating equipment. SCM is an 8-channel, Modbus RTU-based, direct current monitor specifically designed for solar installations. By providing real-time data on performance of each active channel, SCM can generate alarms based upon user selectable thresholds and identify strings or panels that are not working at maximum efficiency. The monitor integrates seamlessly into the Obvius line of data acquisition hardware (Acquisuite), and wireless Modbus transceivers (Modhopper) to provide a total solar marketing package, which includes the industry’s first wireless Modbus weather station.

S SPU-4 series of Schüco PV modules are distinguished by multi-crystalline solar cells, along with high cell efficiency. Each module is flash-tested and these results are stated on the module, as well as on outside packaging for more effective string sizing. Schüco S SPU-4 modules have a five-year extended parts and labor warranty. On output values, this guarantee is considerably longer – after 12 years of operation, a Schüco module is guaranteed to deliver a minimum of 90% of its rated output, and after 25 years output is guaranteed to be at least 80%. Use of lead-free solder during manufacturing of S SPU-4 modules results in a saving of 1.8 oz of lead per module, which makes a considerable contribution to environmental protection.

Solectria Renewables’ line of residential grid-tied PV inverters is now listed on the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved inverter list, with the highest efficiencies (96%) in the industry. Power levels for these new inverters – PVI 3000, PVI 4000, PVI 5000, and PVI 5300 – range from 3,000 to 5,300 watts. Features include: a quick-mount wall bracket; built-in direct current (DC) disconnect; fused PV combiner; universal 240 VAC and 208 VAC operation; transformer isolation; PC software with RS232 and RS485 communication ports; low profile; all-aluminum NEMA 3R outdoor-rated rainproof enclosure; plus, a 10-year warranty and certification to the latest UL 1741/IEEE 1547 standard. In addition, these grid-tied inverters are lightweight, have a flat profile, and are available with panel assemblies, which include an AC disconnect and optional revenue grade meter.

Cascading, ﬂowing, smooth, and sleek are just a few of the adjectives customers use to describe the PV systems designed, engineered, and installed by Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc. Aside from the company’s experience with commercial, agricultural, and residential systems (along with its zero-defect installation policy, which speaks for itself), Power Renewable Energy has an ability to integrate form and function with design. The company’s environmentally responsible installation techniques, artful design, and integration are driving the new face of solar energy.

Obvius | www.obvius.com Booth 627

Schüco USA | www.schuco-usa.com Booth 2001

Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc. www.premierpower.com Booth 1717

Solectria Renewables LLC www.solren.com Booth 1604

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ecoJoule 2500 Inverter ®

Maximizes system productivity Operates during power outages

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New wafer and cell factory The SolarWorld group of companies is involved at all levels of the solar value chain, from raw silicon to development of turnkey solar power systems. The company is opening a new wafer and cell factory in Hillsboro, OR, which produces ingots, wafers and cells, and is already the largest PV factory in North and South America. Currently in production, this factory is in a rapid, ramp-up phase with an ultimate capacity of 500 MW per year. SolarWorld is investing over $400 million in the Oregon factory, which will eventually employ about 1,000 engineers, technicians, and other professionals. SolarWorld has also announced recent developments in their Sunmodule and Sunkits product lines. Sunmodules, the company’s top-quality PV modules, are known for their lightweight, high strength, and superior energy production. Sunkits are pre-engineered, solar PV systems, designed to be installed by electrical contractors as a home appliance. SolarWorld www.solarworld-usa.com Booth 1613

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show in print Solar modules reduce reﬂections

Higher output PV modules and starter kit Kyocera Solar, one of the world’s largest vertically-integrated producers and suppliers of solar energy products, has announced a variety of new products and technological advances, which include: a higher output KD Series family of modules; black back sheet modules; back contact modules; new standardized frame rolling out worldwide; and, MyGen System complete starter kit. MyGen consists of PV modules, a direct current to alternating current (DCto-AC) power conversion device, DC wiring and protection, AC wiring and protection, lightning protection, component mounting, and mechanical support.

CentroSolar, globally recognized for manufacturing and selling PV systems and components, is currently a market leader in Europe and has expanded into the US. The company’s warehouse and distribution facility in Phoenix, Arizona, offers an expanded range of products and services. CentroSolar’s Solara Series solar modules offer a 26-year performance guarantee. Made in Germany, their unique textured surface reduces sunlight reﬂections and permits optimal efﬁciency. To ensure quality control, each Solara module is individually measured during and after the manufacturing process, and under high-quality and ISO conditions. These solar panels can be used in various grid-tied and off-grid applications. CentroSolar America Inc. | www.centrosolaramerica.com Booth 1146

Kyocera Solar Inc. www.kyocerasolar.com Booth 513

Long pulse simulation technology Spire Corporation, a solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture and test PV modules and cells worldwide, recently announced Spi-Sun Simulator 4600SLP. This Spi-Sun Simulator represents the latest simulation technology with its long pulse, allowing for full saturation of trap sites in new thin film materials. It is well-suited for both crystalline silicon and thin film module testing and characterization. Spi-Sun Simulators are used by crystalline silicon module manufacturers globally, as well as by leading thin film producers. Spire will locate Spi-Sun Simulator 4600SLP to a regional test and demonstration center in Munich, Germany, at Electronic Production Partners (EPP), the company’s representative for sales and service of module manufacturing equipment in Germany and Northern Europe. Spire Corporation www.spirecorp.com Booth 1833

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Solar Power International 2008 Parabolic antennas and tracking structures Patriot Antenna Systems, which sells and ships close to two-million antenna systems worldwide each year, understands how their larger parabolic antennas (in sizes 8 to 40 feet in diameter) are a perfect fit for solar thermal applications, as well as for Stirling cycle systems and cpvconcentrated PV applications. Patriot Solar Group has also designed a number of solar trough systems and tracking mount structures for a variety of reflective systems. The company has even developed software for tracking the sun in a low-cost controller system, which, through solid state technology, allows for fine-tune tracking of a number of systems at the same time, reducing overall equipment costs. Patriot Solar Group is also set up to assist company’s design and manufacture R&D technologies in their more than 300,000 square feet automotive-style manufacturing facility in Albion, Michigan. Patriot has been utilizing a new anodized aluminum that is between 95% and 98% reflective, and can be stamped into parabolic reflectors at a much lower cost than utilizing glass or mirrors. Patriot Antenna Systems | www.sepatriot.com Patriot Solar Group | www.patriotsolargroup.com Booth 1549

Solar Solar •• Daylighting Daylighting •• Wind Wind Turbines Turbines •• Solar Solar Lighting Lighting Green Green Roofing Roofing •• Fuel Fuel Cell Cell -- Cogeneration Cogeneration Energy Energy Efficiency Efficiency Audits Audits •• Back-Up Back-Up Power Systems Systems

Renewable Energy Systems From Concept to Completion Commercial • Industrial • Institutional

A global specialist in circuit protection for power generation and distribution, Ferraz Shawmut delivers time-tested circuit protection solutions for PV powered systems. Its high performance, failsafe solutions include Midget, Class CC, and Class R fuses, UltraSafe Fuse Holders, Finger-safe Power Distribution Blocks, and the award-winning Surge-Trap Surge Protective Device. Ferraz Shawmut will launch its innovative Solar Power PIQ (Protection Intelligence Quotient) quiz at the Solar Power International Expo, and attendees are invited to test their knowledge of solar power circuit protection. Ferraz Shawmut www.us.ferrazshawmut.com Booth 2201

Pfister Energy 80 East Fifth Street, Paterson, NJ 07524 Toll Free: 800-367-2207 • Fax: 973-569-9333 Email: letsgo@pfisterenergy.com • www.pfisterenergy.com

Circuit protection solutions for PV systems

Silicon heating and melting technologies

H e r e

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SOLAR CONFERENCE 2008

CanSIA 42

www.cansia.ca

September / October 2008

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December 8-9 2008

Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Ontario Canada

Inductotherm Group provides emerging technologies for a developing solar energy market – from the induction melting of silicon to heating technologies for applications such as the Fluidized Bed Process, directional solidiﬁcation, and single crystal growing. Because of a shortage of fossil fuels, demand for renewable energy is becoming greater. One of the most promising renewable energies is solar power; however, a hindrance to solar energy as a viable resource is the high demand for solar cells utilizing silicon (which make up solar panels), and that demand is currently outstripping supply. Inductotherm Group’s heating and melting technologies is helping the industry meet this ever increasing need for polysilicon. Inductotherm Group www.inductothermgroup.com

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show in print PV surge protection for grid-tie solar power systems CITEL, Inc. has expanded its surge protector line to include models DS60PV and DS50PV, two wire and ground DC power surge protectors for applications up to 1000 Vdc. Designed for severe applications, DS60PV is a Heavy Duty DC surge protector, rated to withstand a direct lightning strike (10/350us waveform) as deďŹ ned by ANSI/IEEE C62.41-2002 and IEC 61643-11. It is typically installed at the DC input to the inverter of a solar power system. For more general duty applications, DS50PV is surge rated at 40kA 8/20us, and engineered to protect against indirect lightning, ac utility grid surges, and internally generated switching transients and faults. These din rail mount devices can be integrated into a PV combiner box or standalone enclosure. T CITEL, Inc. | www.citelprotection.com | Booth 848

Flat roof PV mounting system PanelClaw Inc. has announced the launch of Polar Bear, its ďŹ rst commercial ďŹ&#x201A;at roof mounting system. Polar Bear is a non-rail based, ballasted, mounting system offering features designed to save integrators, architects, inspectors, and building managers time and money. Features include: only three components (support, claw, deďŹ&#x201A;ector) and two types of fasteners; factory-installed electrical grounding, which allows for faster array installation; and, a tilt-up design that saves cost and time during installation, as well as array or roof maintenance. Polar Bear will be distributed exclusively through groSolar.

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PanelClaw Inc. | www.panelclaw.com groSolar | www.grosolar.com Booth 813

Solar LED area lighting Carmanah Technologies Corporation recently announced a partnership with Beta Lighting, which brings the best in solar technology together with leading-edge LED ďŹ xtures. At this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LIGHTFAIR International â&#x20AC;&#x153;LFI Innovation Awardsâ&#x20AC;? in Las Vegas, Carmanahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solar LED area lighting solution took top honors. In a competitive category ďŹ lled with over 20 outdoor lighting products from industry leaders, Carmanahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EverGEN solar-powered LED area light won the Judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Citation Award. Bringing light to areas that have previously been difďŹ cult to illuminate, creating signiďŹ cant long-term cost savings, and representing a green solution, Carmanah solar area lighting system is ideal for pedestrian scale lighting applications such as pathways, bikeways, campuses, security lighting, and more.

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Solar Power International 2008

Solar carport structure Through years of design development, BAJA has perfected a carport structure that uses 50% less steel than its closest competitor, while maintaining all the structural integrity required by code and by buyers. BAJA’s proprietary Solar Support Structure design acts as an elevated ground mount for solar panels that cars and trucks can still park under. As the solar industry needs large quantities of space to install solar panels that produce clean energy, Solar Support Structure turns existing parking lots into solar farms. A property owner and energy user can locate its solar array right next to its buildings; eliminating lost energy in the transmission process, and spending zero dollars on acquiring extra land. Since BAJA Solar has its own in-house design team, licensed in all 50 US states, it can customize a Solar Support Structure so that solar panels achieve an optimum angle of sun exposure, maximizing solar panel energy production. A typical installation can be done on-site in as little as four weeks.

Combiner boxes and string monitoring

Transfer valve for FPD production systems

AMtec Solar’s Prominence line of combiner boxes come in 6, 12, 24, and 36 string models. For string monitoring, the company has partnered with Obvius to create 8, 16, and 32 string models. All boxes are listed to UL1741 and are constructed of the highest quality components available, including NEMA-4X ﬁberglass enclosures (stainless steel, galvanized available), stainless hardware, integrated wire management, as well as ﬁnger-safe fuseholders and safety shields on all bussing. Components, torque values, and wire ranges are all silkscreened on a custom backpan, and multiple ground points allow for different grounding methods. Customized bus bars eliminate messy wiring, and allow for a smaller enclosure and a smaller footprint.

Series 06 XL-VAT Transfer Valve is a new product series designed by VAT for large substrate production systems for ﬂat panel display, solar, glass coating, and other applications. Series 06 XL-VAT Transfer Valve features modular design technology, offering customers easy maintenance and low-cost ownership. The valve features an o-ring sealed gate that can be accessed for service through a removable top cover in the body. Additional features include: an adjustable gate sealing force (high/low pressure); a pneumatic control unit for communication via logic interface; and, an o-ring sealed shaft-feed-through actuator (optional bellows) with a pneumatic locking device. Operating up to 1 bar differential pressure on the gate in either direction, and up to 1 million cycles until ﬁ rst service under unheated and clean conditions, Series 06 XL-VAT Transfer Valve is available in aluminum with sizes ranging from 4" x 54" to 12" x 100".

AMtec Solar | www.amtecsolar.com Booth 627 (sharing with Obvius)

BAJA Construction www.bajacarports.com Booth 338

Passive solar water heating system As fuel costs climb, Rheem Water Heating now offers solar water heating systems under their Rheem Solaraide brand. Combining a storage tank with one or two collector panels, these passive systems operate without pumps or controllers, relying instead on the natural process of convection – also called indirect thermosiphoning – to circulate the heat-transfer fluid. Made especially for Rheem by its Australian subsidiary, Solahart, Rheem Solaraide systems use a specially developed, freeze-proof heat transfer fluid to absorb and deliver heat energy, even on cold and overcast days. The fluid also circulates in a closed loop environment, which further protects against freezing, allowing these systems to be used yearround, even in cold-weather locales. Rheem Manufacturing Company www.rheem.com Booth 935

VAT Inc. | www.vatvalve.com Booth 846

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Screen printing Until now, companies had to choose between the strength and fi ne-line printing capabilities of stainless steel mesh and the dimensional stability of polyester. Dynamesh’s V-Screen combines the best features of polyester and stainless steel mesh into a “super mesh.” Composed of a space-age material called VECRY (derived from the fi ber used in the Mars Pathfi nder airbags for a successful landing on Mars on July 4th, 1997), V-Screen is extremely strong and has incredible dimensional stability. It also offers precision, fine-line printing down to 60μ in a mass production environment. This combination of strength, stability, and precision results in substantially longer screen print runs, reduced rejects, and reduced production costs when compared to traditional polyester or stainless steel mesh. Dynamesh | www.dynamesh.com Booth 1842

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wind energy

Solutions to Challenges in Wind Energy Construction in Canada By MaryLou Wick

Photos Courtesy Mortenson Construction

oday, wind farms in Canada have a capacity of 1,876 MW – enough to power 569,000 homes or equivalent tto 0 0.8% 8% off C Canada’s d ’ ttotal t l electricity l t i it demand. Canada’s wind resource is well-distributed in rural areas throughout the country, with 83 wind farms in operation and more under construction. In total, there are 1,410 turbines now operating in Canada (Canadian Wind Energy Association). The rate of wind farm construction is naturally escalating as wind energy development continues to gain momentum. Canada’s vast landscape offers an abundant wind source: three windy coastlines, the plains, and mountains. All contribute to an endless wind resource, but also present difﬁcult construction terrain, weather, human resource complexities, and more. And, as is true for any area in the world, Canada offers some unique conditions that challenge a construction team. A construction review of Canada’s largest wind farm to date, Prince Wind Energy Project, Phases I & II, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, offers a snapshot of some commonly anticipated challenges in Canadian wind farm construction. Phases I & II of the Prince Wind Energy Project (developed and owned by Brookﬁeld Renewable Power and built by Mortenson Construction), is sited on a wooded ridge along Lake Superior’s shoreline. The project consists of 126 GE Wind Energy 1.5-megawatt (MW)

wind turbine generators on 80-meter towers for a total capacity of 189 MW. Prince was effectively managed and exet dd it challenging h ll i tterrain, i d cuted despite dense rock conditions, and a construction schedule that encountered harsh winter weather conditions. Construction scope for this project included: • building 48 kilometers of access roads; • 126 turbine foundations; • erection of 126 wind turbines; • installation of 90 kilometers of 34.5kV underground collection system; • 26 kilometers of 34.5kV overhead collection system; • 112.1 kilometers of 230kV transmission line; • three 34.5/230kV substations. Rocky terrain

Prince Wind Energy Project was constructed in an area of dense, rugged timberland. Subsurface conditions consist of a granite rock formation overlain by a variable layer of ﬁnegrained soils. The overburden is generally shallow, and bedrock is exposed in many areas. Granite rock formation, commonly referred to as Canadian Shield, is known to be some of the hardest rock on earth. As such, this required research and detailed planning during the pre-construction phase to prepare for access road construction, turbine foundation construction, and installation of the underground electrical collection system.

During design of Phase I, the construction team relied on ground penetrating radar (GPR) to determine depth off th the soil il over th the b bedrock. d k IInformation f ti obtained from the GPR survey ultimately proved unreliable, resulting in large overruns in rock excavation and concrete quantities. For Phase II, the approach changed to simple boreholes through the overburden, on a grid pattern, to determine depth. This information obtained using the borehole method proved much more reliable, allowing revision of the geometry of the roadways to avoid rock and reduce rock excavation costs.

Cost of roadway construction was further reduced by changing the th rated design speed of the roadway system. sys On Ph O Phase II, th the roadway d system t was devised using parameters generally used to design public roadways where trafﬁc speeds are higher. Additional research presented compelling justiﬁcation to reduce allowable speeds on the roadway for Phase II and, thereby, relax limitations on the design geometry. Such revisions allowed for creation of a road design that more closely followed existing terrain. Continued on page 48…

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wind energy â&#x20AC;Ścontinued from page 45 Weather and scheduling

Weather is a common concern that consistently threatens a construction projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schedule and budget. Of course, the great irony of wind energy construction isâ&#x20AC;Śwind. Erecting a commercial wind turbine can be dangerous and complicated whenever it is windy or blowing too hard. Add rain, snow, ice, heat, and storms, and a project schedule can be severely impacted.

Original scheduling of the Prince Wind Energy Project included Phase I construction beginning in spring of 2005; however, the start was delayed when necessary permits were not obtained until early September of that year. Faced with the prospect of constructing through winter, along with the extraordinary challenges winter construction can bring â&#x20AC;&#x201C; snowfall, ice buildup, mechanics of cold machines and

tools, etc â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all disadvantages had to be weighed with the advantages of recapturing the initial schedule. Ultimately, a decision was made to construct roads and foundations during winter months to take full advantage of erecting turbines during the low-wind months of June through September of 2006. Despite initial schedule set-backs, construction of both phases was completed on schedule in November 2006.

The Power of Wind

How Chicago Industrial Fastenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is making a difference As our country tries to shed its dependency on fossil fuels, there is an energy revolution sweeping through the manufacturing sector, and opportunities for forward-thinking companies abound. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Help wantedâ&#x20AC;? pages in all publications relating to wind energy are overďŹ&#x201A;owing with opportunity. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say that about too many industries in the US these days! To witness this ďŹ rsthand, all you have to do is stroll down the aisles of a related trade show, like Windpower â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;08, which took place in Houston, Texas this past June. This show offered an opportunity for all companies involved in wind power to prospect for new business opportunities, gather and share ideas, and re-establish acquaintanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with old friends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Chicago Industrial Fasteners (CIF) did all three. The numbers vary depending on who you ask, but the Windpower show was huge and was attended by over 12,000 people. In comparison, the ďŹ rst show CIF attended was in Denver four years ago, where attendance may have been about 4000. The growth of the wind energy sector has certainly provided its share of challenges for the supply chain side of the manufacturing equation. One area that has been highly publicized is the component supply chain. Chicago Industrial Fastenerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wind division, CIF Wind, has serviced this need since October of 2004. The company works with an array of talented and nimble manufacturers who can augment CIFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capabilities and add to their value proposition. This ability, coupled with CIFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-house thread rolling, has made them an attractive supplier to many of the companies supplying turbines, towers, maintenance and repair, and ancillary items to the industry. CIF has been ISO certiďŹ ed since 2004, and is always working to improve their processes. The company recently passed their re-audit for 2009. Tim Lausin, CIFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sales manager, has learned over the years that many of his wind power customers have unusual needs, and are seeking a company that can deliver. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Either we ďŹ nd them or they ďŹ nd us,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However it happens, there is no better feeling than to connect with a customer who not only needs our help, but appreciates what we can do for them and respects us as a supplier. As a sales person, that deďŹ nes the ultimate relationship with a customer.â&#x20AC;? One area CIF has developed and will continue to grow relates to their in-house thread rolling capabilities. With the purchase of a Tesker 600 series thread roller, the company can control the thread rolling of blade studs, and has the capacity to thread 8000 studs per week. Ultimately, CIF would like to add a second shift to increase that capacity. Operations manager Michael Felicelli feels this is an attainable goal, â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the demand for precision rolled thread blade studs increasing dramatically, we think we can offer an attractive package to our customers,â&#x20AC;? he shares. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can get the steel locally, roll the threads in our Sugar Grove facility, and then get the studs plated per our customer speciďŹ cations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some want Dacromet, some want Delta, and we have ready access to both products, along with any other that a customer may need. Our location in the Chicagoland WI ND area allows us to provide our customers with a wide range of products and services.â&#x20AC;? The growth of the renewable energy sector, along with CIFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participation in it, has made for exciting times at the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Sugar Grove blueprint specials TOWER BOLTS nacelle hardware location, which offers 11,000 square feet of ofďŹ ce BLADE STUDS full test reports available DACROMET delta tone TZN and warehouse space. CIF prides itself on its MoS2 ISO & DIN SPECS all grades and sizes available ability to react to customer needs faster than the competition, and to understand that the industry demands responsive vendors. This is how CIF has built their business, and is the way they see it growing in the future. CHICAGO INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS WWW CIFWIND COM SALES CIFWIND COM www.chicagoindustrialfasteners.com

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Environmental challenges and solutions

Wind energy construction can raise environmental concerns. In most cases, potential problems are mitigated through conscientious planning, research, and early and frequent consultation between developers, contractors, and environmental authorities. Prior to construction of the Prince Wind Energy Project, the developer prepared a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The EMP addressed several areas of environmental concern to which the contractor would be held accountable. Surveys were performed consistently throughout construction to ensure preservation of indigenous wildlife. Adaptations in staging of work activities were made during construction to accommodate restrictions that related to existing waterways, wildlife, birds, and ďŹ sh in the area. For example, rock blasting activities were suspended during birdsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; nesting season in forested and wetland areas, and strategies were put into place to protect several ďŹ sh-inhabited creeks in the pathway of the new access road system. The construction team also worked closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to ensure and conďŹ rm EMP requirements were met. SpeciďŹ c plans were developed outlining how construction would progress, taking into account the Ontario Provincial Standard SpeciďŹ cations and industry Best Management Practices. These plans were then recognized and monitored by the MNR and DFO. Through proper planning and team effort, there was little impact on the environment. Local workforce

Wind farms are typically built in remote, sparsely populated areas. Common to wind farm construction is a lack of availability of specialized, local workforce. It may seem the best solution would be to bring skilled labor along, but a contractor committed to positive community stewardship is motivated to contribute to the economic beneďŹ t of the communities in which they build. Employing local residents delivers on that pledge, but requires a proven and extensive training program. For this project, a commitment was made to use local labor, and Prince was constructed utilizing 100% local, craft workers. The labor force around Sault Ste. Marie was very skilled, but had little experience on wind power projects. Lack of experience was a primary concern during turbine erection, which requires highly specialized skills. To ensure worker safety and quality of work, all craft workers and foremen/ forewomen were required to take wideranging turbine erection training prior

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to beginning production. This training paid off by providing local residents with more than a year of stable income and beneﬁts, and the turbine erection work was completed on schedule and without incident. A strong team

Like all construction endeavors, wind energy construction projects often experience set-backs. A successful project is one where problems are anticipated early by a team of experienced construction professionals, and solved in an efﬁcient and skillful manner. A key to constructing a successful wind energy facility is to build a team of stakeholders who are in constant communication, and who work in partnership to serve the best interests of a project and the community in which it is built. Stakeholders include a determined developer, a well-qualiﬁed contractor experienced in the wind industry,

subcontractors who are experts in their trade, and other local or federal authorities who provide ancillary expertise. From concept to facility energization, there is no challenge that cannot be met when a strong, knowledgeable team is in place. Mortenson Construction www.mortenson.com

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wind energy

Turnkey Solutions for Small Wind Turbine Manufacturers By Jennie Young

Figure 1 – Indusoft Wind Farm HMI/ SCADA Application Dashboard

s the wind energy industry gains momentum and garners more and more press coverage, it is easy to see that commercial wind power production (to supplement the grid) is on the rise. Less obvious is a steadily growing stream of small wind producers who work for individual clients to provide energy independence. Small wind applications are typically purchased by an entity or community –

Using our past to

such as a school system, farm, or business complex – that wishes to install turbines and use the wind power generated as its primary or secondary source of energy. Because these small wind consumers are not turbine experts, monitoring and maintenance responsibilities often remain with the manufacturer. Although not uncommon in large wind applications, remote turbine management presents unique challenges for small wind providers. Like their larger counterparts, manufacturers of small wind turbines are prepared to handle technical issues with the units they install. Difﬁculty is not found so much in maintaining turbines, as it is in monitoring them. As these providers work with many different customers, connecting turbines to offsite monitoring facilities can prove quite cumbersome.

Most small wind turbine manufacturers do not have the bandwidth or buying power of larger manufacturers, which limits their ability to have teams dedicated to developing standard monitoring systems, and to form relationships with hardware and software vendors. They might design one system for one client and a different system for the next (i.e. “piece meal” fashion). Though each solution is capable of collecting and

processing necessary data points, managing information from these various sources often causes logistical problems for small wind companies. Even though it is difﬁcult to design inhouse, implementing a standard platform for all supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) functions enables small wind providers to improve efﬁciency and reduce costs.

Figure 2 – System Architecture of a Typical Small Wind Installation

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Figure 3 – Integrated Server Rack

SCADA software

Perhaps the first decision to make as a small wind provider is which SCADA software package to install. Since small wind producers do not want to spend added or unnecessary time programming, it is important to choose a product with built-in flexibility and a proven track record. It is also imperative the system selected is set up for remote monitoring across multiple locations. A product that graphically displays operational performance data of a single turbine, as well as an entire fleet, is most useful. Dashboard style displays [Figure 1] allow small wind management teams to monitor turbines more effectively and efficiently. SCADA systems are meant to increase productivity by establishing predictive and preventative maintenance strategies, not to generate large amounts of information that must be filtered through. If turbine installation and maintenance teams cover large geographical areas, it is also important to ensure operational data can be accessed not only at a master control station, but also on a laptop or PDA in the form of a web thin client. Real-time alerts that notify manufacturers when a critical control point is out of range are a key to providing responsive customer support.

a deﬁned process in a controlled environment. Servers used for storing data and initiating alarms must be organized and networked in such a way to communicate seamlessly with ﬁeld computers, as well as web thin clients. If collecting large amounts of data, an integrated server rack [Figure 3] should be developed based on the manufacturer’s load and preferences. These racks can include an operator station if desired.

Turnkey solution beneﬁts

Testing various scenarios and qualifying multiple vendors is expensive and timeconsuming. Choosing to consolidate suppliers for these key hardware and software components enables small wind turbine manufacturers to save time and money while improving core capabilities. By identifying a turnkey solution provider with an established partner network,

small wind companies can enjoy the beneﬁts of higher volume pricing, easier ordering, and repeatable designs. An ideal supplier will deliver a turnkey SCADA solution that can be replicated (or modiﬁed slightly) for each new client, allowing manufacturers to focus on developing and selling greater and better wind turbines. CCS-Inc. | www.ccs-inc.com/wind InduSoft | www.indusoft.com

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Integrated hardware

The system architecture of a typical small wind installation [Figure 2] is comprised of five basic parts: (1) turbines; (2) programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that translate analog inputs into digital signals; (3) computers that process and send information collected by PLCs; (4) a server, or server rack to store data; (5) web thin clients that can access information. Most manufacturers have little trouble selecting and standardizing on a PLC model. Determining the connecting hardware (3, 4) and how to configure it in a repeatable way is more challenging. A computer that accepts information from the PLC must be able to withstand the elements of an outdoor turbine site and communicate wirelessly. However, if a SCADA software package can be installed on an embedded operating system, and is not RAM intensive, it does not need much processing power. In most cases, a small, fan-less computer is a good choice. This eliminates any possibility of failure due to dust damage, provides only a required amount of processing power, and occupies a smaller footprint than most commercial PCs. Regardless of form factor, each computer should be loaded with an instance of the SCADA software prior to installation. Setting up data points in the field is inefficient and creates more opportunity for error than pre-configuring the system according to

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wind energy

Mobile Tool Cribs Increasing jobsite efﬁciency and accountability at wind farms By Dale Alberts

hen it comes to frustration, you can bet losing tools or not having the right tools at a jobsite ranks high for workers. A lost wrench here, a broken ratchet there, and before long, a tool crib can become seriously depleted. Taking workers off a task to search a site for tools not only wastes time, but also diminishes productivity. In fact, recent surveys show jobsite productivity can drop as much as 6% due to workers not having proper tools or assets when needed. But more than just productivity is on the line when a tool goes missing. Nothing harms a wind farm or large power grid faster than a tool that is left behind or left in a place it shouldn’t be. Sensitive equipment or systems costing millions of dollars could be damaged and rendered inoperable by a lone $10 tool that gets misplaced.

To solve these problems, mobile tool cribs, along with the high degree of accountability they bring, are starting to catch on with companies in the power generation industry. The concept of a tool crib is nothing new, of course. What is new, however, are well-organized cribs that offer a controlled environment, which increase jobsite productivity and reduce costs. These next-generation mobile tool cribs provide the latest technical advances, including asset management software to reduce tool replacement costs while increasing output. When managed properly, a crib becomes an integral component of a jobsite, especially at larger wind farms and sites in remote locations. A challenge commonly faced by contractors and workers today is that they lose control over their inventory as soon as a crib hits the ground. No one knows what tools are available, who is using

them, or if they have been returned. Recent technology has helped design a mobile tool crib that addresses those issues by integrating software, which delivers complete tool management, and incorporating a custom-built turnkey mobile tool crib that operates from start to ﬁnish. All tools are accounted for at all times – from when an item is checked out to when it is returned, reducing tool loss and increasing cost-efﬁciency. Mobile tool cribs are also becoming just that – more mobile. Instead of workers going back-and-forth to a crib, which is often quite a distance from an actual jobsite, tool cribs are now going to workers. Mobile cribs can be customized and set up directly onsite to best meet the needs of those working. Modular in design, these cribs include storage and control systems, cabinets and shelving, plus electrical components that include lighting, air con-

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ditioning, and electronic keyless entry systems. Some suppliers even provide trained attendants to manage a crib. During set-up, an attendant’s first job is to enter each worker into a crib’s tool tracking software and assign each person a barcode. A quick scan of an employee’s barcode, followed by a scan of an outgoing tool allows for accurate tracking of all equipment – which has traditionally been a difficult task. For example, if a worker gets all tools he requires for a particular job, but gets called over to help with another task, he is likely to leave his tools behind to return to later. However, if he now needs tools at his new location, he may simply pile up on a second set, leaving a crib depleted and tools scattered across the jobsite. This scenario has a direct affect on productivity. Mobile tool crib programs with new asset management software go a long way toward increasing accountability. Asset management software not only keeps track of tools, but also enables an attendant to track usage trends, output valuable management reports, and provide a clear indication of what is available in inventory. When new tools are added, an attendant assigns them a bar code and updates the system to reflect an accurate count. Once a job is complete, a crib can be loaded onto a tractor trailer for delivery to another jobsite. A company also receives a printout of what tools need to be replaced, recalibrated, or recertified. Companies using mobile tool cribs have reported dramatic cost savings – as much as 50% in tool and equipment purchases – as a result of asset management software. With the number of wind farms and other power generation sites on the rise, complete asset management and promise of cost savings are opportunities that will likely move to the forefront. Dale Alberts is director of business development for Snap-on Industrial, a supplier of tools, equipment, and mobile tool cribs for the power generation market. Snap-on Industrial www.snapon.com/industrial

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wind energy

Sale of the Alta Wind Project What it means for future wind power deals By Jeffrey Chester

Jeffrey Chester is a partner in Kaye Scholer’s Los Angeles office and heads the firm’s wind power practice, focusing on wind energy development, construction, tax structuring, and project finance. He has been centrally involved in the development of equity, debt, and capital markets for wind power projects, having closed more than 40 wind power deals throughout the US.

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hen Allco Finance Group Limited was hit hard by the sub-prime crisis driving its stock price to below $.50 per share from a high of more than $14 per share, it decided to put its worldwide wind business up for sale. Although Allco knew its wind business was valuable, it had no idea just how valuable it was. Allco entered the US wind market through a joint venture with Oak Creek Energy Systems, a Marubeni corporation, in early 2006. Steen Stavnsbo, head of wind for Allco, and Niels Rydder, president of Oak Creek, have known each other for more than 20 years, having both worked for NEG Micon (which was later acquired by Vestas) and its predecessors. Together, in 1996, they established NEG Micon’s wind development arm, and were involved in some of the common wind era’s pioneering deals including acquisi-

This process demonstrates the market for wind development assets is robust, with many new ﬁnancial and strategic buyers vying to enter and compete for quality assets with established players.

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tion of Green Ridge (250 MWs) from Kenetech, with FPL Energy, as well as the development of Cameron Ridge (60 MWs), Oak Creek Wind Power (24 MWs), Westwinds (48 MWs), and Foot Creek III (24 MWs) – all before 2001. Allco’s US wind business consisted of the 3,100 MW Alta Wind Project in Tehachapi, California. Tehachapi is one of the premier wind resources in California, and was home to some of the earliest wind projects and turbine manufacturers. In recent years, Tehachapi has seen almost no new wind development because of transmission constraints. However, while no one else was paying attention, Oak Creek

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and Allco locked up site control and interconnection queue positions for over 3,000 MWs. Allco and Oak Creek then convinced Southern California Edison (SCE) to enter into a landmark 1,550 MW power purchase agreement (PPA), which provides for development of the project in phases over a period of years under separate PPAs. SCE used this hallmark PPA to obtain CPUC and FERC approval of a 4,500 MW transmission line upgrade. Alta Wind Project is the crown jewel of the US wind industry. This 1,550 MW PPA is the largest wind PPA ever signed anywhere. This Project is located in one of the best documented and windiest regions in the world, with a development pipeline that is transparent and achievable. Whoever controls Alta Wind becomes the biggest developer in California. In March 2008, Allco began the process for the sale of Alta Wind Project. They retained Marathon Capital to conduct an auction, and Marathon prepared an Investment Memorandum. After signing a confidentiality agreement, bidders were allowed into an abridged data room and invited to submit indications of interest. Allco received over 60 indications of interest, which were narrowed down to a shortlist of seven bidders. These seven bidders were admitted to a full data room and invited to submit fully binding bids. Bidders were instructed to submit all cash, non-conditional bids on the form of Purchase and Sale Agreement provided by Allco. After receiving binding bids, Allco selected two bidders for final negotiations, and separately negotiated the Purchase and Sale Agreement with both bidders until ArcLight Capital Partners (together with its renewable energy company Terra-Gen Power) was selected. ArcLight is a private equity firm specializing in energy investments, and Terra-Gen Power focuses on wind, solar, and geothermal generation. Teams of lawyers on both sides worked around the clock from that Thursday evening until the Purchase and Sale Agreement was signed on the following Monday afternoon, on June 16th, 2008. Closing occurred shortly thereafter. The entire process took less than three months from start to finish. The purchase price was $325 million, plus the assumption of approximately $65 million of outstanding letters of credits. This process demonstrates the market for wind development assets is

robust, with many new ﬁnancial and strategic buyers vying to enter and compete for quality assets with established players. The market clearly differentiates between development pipelines and operating assets, with buyers willing to pay premiums for pipelines.

Premium value increases substantially when a pipeline is large enough for a new player to enter the market in scale. As capital requirements on developers have escalated dramatically, and with turbine manufacturers trending toward doing business primarily with larger

players, the process of consolidation among developers has been accelerating. The Allco process shows there is still plenty of interest and available capital to power this consolidation trend. Kaye Scholer www.kayescholer.com

North American Clean Energy

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wind energy

wind energy news briefs American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has licensed its proprietary WT1650 wind turbine design to Model Enerji Ltd., Turkey’s ﬁrst megawatt-class wind turbine manufacturer. Under contract terms, Model Enerji has exclusive rights to manufacture, sell, install, operate, and maintain the WT1650

in Turkey, and has non-exclusive rights for surrounding Mediterranean and Eastern European countries. “Because of its vast wind resources, open terrain and industrial infrastructure,Turkey is predicted to be among the world’s fastest growing wind energy markets,” said M Celal Keki, general manager of Model

Enerji. With plans to manufacture the 1.65 MW turbines, which utilize a doubly-fed induction generator drive train, in Turkey’s Ankara industrial zone, the company intends to have its ﬁrst prototype installed and commissioned in mid-2009.

REpower Systems AG has successfully installed the first of six wind energy turbines for the Belgian offshore wind farm Thornton Bank. The project, at about 30km off the coast, is the first Belgian offshore wind farm. For the first of three construction phases, the German wind turbine manufacturer is providing six REpower 5M offshore turbines with a rated power of five megawatts (MW) each, adding up to a total of 30 MW. The installation method planned for Thornton Bank is one where various components are assembled individually: After erecting the two-part tower and the nacelle, the final stage involves lifting the rotor, already completely pre-assembled on land, into place. Developed by REpower, this method is also cost-saving. All work at sea is performed in a water depth of around 25-metres using jack-up drilling platforms. enXco Service Corporation (eSC) announced a multi-year Operations and Maintenance Service Agreement with Xcel Energy for Xcel’s 100.5 MW Grand Meadow Wind Project located near Austin, Minnesota in Mower County. enXco Service Corporation will provide operations and all necessary maintenance for the 67 GE 1.5 MW turbines and balance of plant equipment, as well as “24/7” remote monitoring and fault resets from their Operations Control Center located in Pipestone, Minnesota. Grand Meadow Wind Project is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2008.

Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED) played a part in the recent passing of the net metering bills in the state of New York. Net metering allows electricity customers who have installed renewable energy generating systems, such as a wind turbine, to receive retail credit when they produce more electricity than they use. The old policy only allowed electricity customers to receive wholesale credit, which is typically half the value of retail credit. Speciﬁcally, this legislation would allow non-residential customers with generators of up to two megawatts and farmers with generators up to 500 kilowatts to receive these beneﬁts. Currently, full retail net metering is only provided to residential and farm projects up to 10kW.

Marquiss Wind Power recently praised Mayor Gavin Newsom and the City of San Francisco for making a commitment to expedite wind power permits and minimize costs for implementing wind 56

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energy solutions. On advice from Residential Wind Power Work Group, the mayor issued an executive order to San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection and to the city’s planning department to expedite permitting and minimize costs for the installation of residential, commercial, and municipal wind generation turbines in the city. “We applaud Mayor Newsome and the city of San Francisco for taking a serious step toward becoming less dependent on fossil fuels,” said Paul Misso, CEO of Marquiss Wind Power. “As a provider of wind power solutions, we know ﬁrst-hand the red tape that bogs down many legitimate alternative energy efforts, and that’s why local governments around California should look to San Francisco as an example of how to move forward with clean power projects.”

Finavera Renewables Inc. has entered into discussions with a potential corporate investor, and has received a nonbinding financing proposal in connection with four wind projects currently being developed in the Peace Region of British Columbia, Canada. The proposal contemplates the investor would invest 100% of the equity requirements for each of the projects awarded an electricity purchase agreement by BC Hydro pursuant to the BC Hydro Clean Power Call. “This proposal contains financing solutions for these 300 megawatts of wind projects in British Columbia, and would allow us to move forward with strong bids to secure power purchase agreements,” said Finavera Renewables CEO Jason Bak. “An equity solution provides one of the greatest milestones towards the development of wind farms. It facilitates the arrangement of senior project debt, which, together with equity, would represent a $1 billion financing solution for the expected cost of constructing and commissioning these four wind farms.” The Clean Power Call Request for Proposals (RFP), released by BC Hydro on June 11th, 2008, targets up to 5,000 Gigawatt hours of clean, renewable energy per year from larger-scale projects using proven technologies. Proposals will be due November 25th, 2008, and electricity purchase agreements are expected to be awarded between April and June 2009.

Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) has entered into a master research agreement with Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world’s largest supplier of wind turbines. The agreement is the latest step in expanding the TEES program in wind energy research and development, which will help propel Texas toward energy independence. Today, Texas leads the nation in wind power, accounting for 26% of the nation’s total installed wind capacity or the equivalent of the electricity needed to power more than one million Texas homes.

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wind energy

Pitch control system

Wind rescue system

Moog Inc. acquired 40% ownership of the wind energy business of privately held LTi REEnergy GmbH in June 2008. This partnership gives Moog a widely used electromechanical pitch control system (PCS), featuring LTi PITCHmaster II, to complement its existing electrohydraulic blade pitch control and transmission systems for wind turbines. PITCHmaster II is the latest generation of servocontroller for electric PCS. An operator of a wind turbine has to maintain the inclination angle of a turbine’s blades. When wind conditions are strong, the turbine needs a failsafe to put blades at an angle where the load is reduced. Many blade pitch control systems can fail in this regard, but PITCHmaster II can withstand harsh weather temperatures ranging from -22°F to 158°F (-30°C to +70°C). It also includes an integrated acceleration sensor, which offers the ability to supply information on rotor speed, rotor position, and vibrations.

Engineered for the wind energy industry, Gravitec Systems, Inc. released their G4 Wind Rescue System, which addresses the need for a user-friendly, high-angle rescue system that can be used to quickly evacuate personnel from at-height locations on turbines. In a matter of minutes, G4 can be conﬁgured to facilitate one- or twoperson rescues utilizing overhead anchorages. It can also be used to manipulate casualties around corners, or to lift, lower, or drag an incapacitated worker. Unlike other systems, G4’s design virtually eliminates rope entanglement in windy environments. Gravitec Systems, Inc. www.gravitec.com

Moog Inc. | www.moog.com

Proactive monitoring systems Redesigned 660KW generator Shermco Industries’ freshly designed 660KW generator was built by LeroySomer as an after-market replacement for the Vestas V-47 turbine. Tested at 60Hz and 3000 RPM over speed for two minutes, the 660KW generator features: glass over ﬁlm wire; two VPI treatments; V-form stator winding (to reduce heating); a form-wound rotor; 50 degree C ambient temperature; and Class H insulation. Shermco Industries will sell and service the improved generator. Shermco Industries www.shermco.com 58

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Dranetz-BMI’s Encore Series of permanent and proactive monitoring systems offers power quality, energy, and demand, as well as process monitoring in a space modular and conﬁgurable instrument. The 61000 ‘build your own system’ allows users to set up a monitoring system to match speciﬁc needs, whether it is 4-channel current, 4-channel voltage, 8-channel digital input, or a combination of the 4 input module slots. Both meeting and exceeding IEEE and IEC Power Quality monitoring standards, Encore System Software works with Windows XP/Vista providing web browser-based user interface while supporting up to 100 plus instruments. Dranetz-BMI www.dranetz-bmi.com

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Long-lift electric Self-powered wind wind turbine hoists sensor

High-capacity hydraulic ﬁlters

Surge protection devices

CM Wind Edition Lodestar (for loads exceeding 550 pounds) and Shopstar (when the weight and size of the hoist are critical) are specially modiﬁed hoist models that have been customized to hold up to the rigors of the wind industry. Compact, rugged, and portable, CM Wind Turbine Hoists offer better control as long-lift electric hoists that exceed 300 feet. A two-speed motor allows for slower speed starts and stops, as well as a faster speed for load transition. A precision machined and hardened liftwheel ﬁtting the chain provides smoother operation and reduces chain vibration. CM Wind Turbine Hoists are also equipped with overload protection that prevents lifting more than rated capacity, protecting operators and equipment. No special tools are required for disassembly, allowing for simple and quick hoist inspections and maintenance adjustments.

Donaldson Company has improved their Triboguard line of industrial hydraulics filter elements to provide 73% higher dirt-holding capacity, and 47% lower initial pressure drop than traditional filters. The line of filter elements has been redesigned, with added wire mesh to the media pack construction to improve the filter’s structural strength and to increase the media area. Using Donaldson’s proprietary Synteq filter media, these filters allow higher initial cleanliness, provide superior system protection, and offer a cost-effective solution. Triboguard filters reduce maintenance costs due to an extended filter life, which results in longer change intervals. This family of high-performance hydraulic filters is ideally suited for demanding wind power applications.

Raycap Inc. received approval from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to mark its Strikesorb 40mm and 80mm surge protection device (SPD) modules as UL 1449 3rd Edition Safety Standard certiﬁed. Strikesorb modules met the Safety Standard’s intermediate current abnormal over-voltage test by successfully conducting current at 1000A for seven hours, without disconnecting from the circuit. Featuring a ﬂat slope resistance characteristic, Strikesorb SPD module received a nominal discharge current test (In) rating of 20kA, the highest possible, without the use of internal fuses. The Strikesorb module is comprised of a single distribution-grade metal oxide varistor (MOV) disc that provides uniform distribution of the surge current over the total area of the MOV protection element. This results in a high-energy handling capability combined with ultra-low let-through voltage to the protected equipment.

Etesian Technologies’ breeze is the ﬁrst self-powered and wireless anemometer, which scavenges energy from the wind being measured. An internal generator provides all necessary power, enabling breeze to wirelessly transmit its data back to a base station up to 300 feet away. This not only eliminates a need for wires, batteries, or solar panels, but also eliminates the risk of damage to the logger or control system due to lightening. Technologies LLC www.etesian-tech.com

Donaldson Filtration Systems www.donaldson.com

CM Complete Lifting Systems www.cmindustrial.com

Raycap Inc. | www.raycapinc.com

High-grade lifting attachments

Compact vibration monitoring VIBROWEB XP by Ludeca Inc. offers online-condition monitoring of a wind turbine’s complete drive-train with vibration accelerometers especially developed for low-speed machines. Measurements include vibration, shock pulse, acceleration enveloping, freuency trends, load, wind speed, blade pitch, and more. Used together with Ludeca’s PERMALIGN system, VIBROWEB XP both measures and trends alignment conditions live during operation to derive optimal alignment targets needed for precision sharft alignment. Ludeca Inc. | www.ludeca.com

Famous for its round link chain technology, including the corrosion-proof hoist chains required for tower maintenance, RUD has developed a lifting attachment that has become standard with many wind tower manufacturers – the Flaribo. Using teams of Flaribos (30m x 5m diameters), sections weighing up to 70 tons can be safely lifted, positioned, and secured, enabling a contractor to erect an entire wind tower in less than a day. Each Flaribo has a certified safe working load of 18 tonnes and is individually formed from a high-grade steel plate, which is x-rayed to ensure it is fault-free. For ease of handling, baseplates are provided with one round and one elongated bolt hole. An elongated hole enables the bolts to be quickly adjusted to match any discrepancies in the fixing points pre-drilled in the tower section’s flange ring.

Turbine system software Romax’s R12.6 is helping engineers overcome a major issue facing the wind energy industry: reliability. This software facilitates the design and analysis of robust bearings, gearboxes, and drivetrain systems by taking into account all components and their interactions. Producing indepth results for deﬂections, alignments, and dynamics in record time, R12.6 is equipping engineers with tools needed to create innovative turbine systems to drive the industry forward. Romax Technology | www.romaxtech.com

RUD | www.rud.com North American Clean Energy

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CanWEA 2008

CanWEA 2008 Fast Forward to Wind

Show in Print Features just some of the companies and technologies attendees will see at this year’s show.

October 19-22, 2008, Vancouver Convention Centre, British Columbia

www.canwea.ca The 24th Annual Conference and Trade Show of the Canadian Wind Energy Association features valuable educational and networking sessions, and provides a platform for those involved in the industry to promote inﬁnite possibilities for wind energy today and into the future.

Sodar-based wind assessment Second Wind has announced commercial availability of Triton Sonic Wind Proﬁler, a new tool for sodar-based wind assessment. Designed to address the common challenges that previously limited the use of sodar for wind resource assessment, Triton Sonic Wind Proﬁler captures accurate wind data up to 200 meters, in any weather at any location, without being attended. Readings look like anemometry results with no expert analysis required. Field-proven, Triton has ultralow power consumption, and users can easily access data in real-time from any computer over the SkyServe satellite wind data service. Second Wind | www.secondwind.com

Slip ring technology for extended operating life Designed with a double-track system especially for wind turbines, the latest generation of slip ring assemblies from SCHLEIFRING allow for an extended operating life. After normal wear and tear, only the brush blocks need to be changed instead of the complete slip ring unit. This design contributes to a considerable reduction of maintenance costs. Although wind turbine systems predominantly use precious metal sliding contact technology, SCHLEIFRING exclusively offers non-contacting transmission technologies for high data rate transmission. Advantages of non-contacting technologies include wear-resistance, high noise immunity, excellent EMC performance, and reliability. SCHLEIFRING www.schleifring.com

Remote monitoring weather station HOBO Remote Monitoring System, a state-of-the-art weather station, provides instant access to data (such as wind speed, direction, and output power) via the Internet. The system combines research-grade hardware with built-in GSM cellular communications and HOBOlink, a new, webenabled software platform. HOBOlink allows users to access current and historical data, set alarm notifications, and relay activations, and manage and control HOBO Remote Monitoring systems without having to go into the field. System features include: a single, integrated data-logging and cellular communications unit; a plug-and-play architecture that allows users to connect a wide range of sensors without programming, wiring, or calibration; and a double-weatherproof enclosure for dependable operation in harsh environmental conditions. Hoskin Scientific Ltd. www.hoskin.ca

Safe and small wind turbines Come and meet us at

Booth 909, October 19-22

Endurance S-250 Small Wind Turbine is the ﬁrst commercially available small wind turbine designed to meet the speciﬁcations and safety standards of large megawatt wind turbines. Not only has it been built for the on-grid market, connecting directly to a power grid (which eliminates the need for inverters), Endurance S-250 also has an anemometer for optimal performance and a patented dual volt system designed to maximize power generation in both high and low wind velocities. To account for those living nearby, Endurance S-250’s over-speed protection involves redundant and failsafe brake calipers that stop the rotors in any wind conditions to ensure safety, and the proprietary blade design and constant rotor speed produces power at low rotor speeds to reduce noise levels. Endurance Wind Power | www.endurancewindpower.com

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show in print Tilt-up tubular towers AAT Inc. recently unveiled a new line of upgradeable, tilt-up tubular towers for wind assessment. Offering greater ﬂexibility, SCOUT50UP and SCOUT60UP allows users to begin with a 50 or 60-meter tower and upgrade to a full 80-meters (MEGA80HD) whenever precise hub-height measurements are required. Using cutting-edge science and technology, all AAT towers come complete with cables, anchors and ground wire, are polar certiﬁed to withstand harsh conditions and are available in package sets with instruments, data loger, solar panels, etc. AAT | www.aat-solutions.com

Adaptable permanent magnet generator Vbine Energy has developed a “ring” shaped permanent magnet generator that can be adapted to factory smoke stacks, chimneys, or even communication towers to make use of existing structures and provide power where needed. The vertical axis generator is revolutionary in many aspects; with the integration of the turbine and generator, Vbine Energy has eliminated a need for drive shafts and gear boxes. It also has a low RPM and takes advantage of wind moving in any direction. As a company located in the prairies of western Canada, Vbine Energy is witness to extreme weather conditions, and has developed their generators accordingly – from -40 degrees Celsius to + 40 degrees Celsius, all units are designed to perform to an optimal level. Vbine Energy | www.vbine.com

Equipment storage and transportation protection As wind energy products are not usually manufactured in the same location where they are used, Dr. Shrink’s premium shrinkwrap provides protection from weather damage to ensure hubs, gearboxes, and blades are in proper working condition while in storage and when arriving at their ﬁnal destination. Unlike tarps, which often move and chafe, shrinkwrap stays in place and will not damage covered products. Thoroughly waterproof, it can be sealed around entire equipment units to help prevent weather-related losses, and is available in widths of 12' to 40' and thicknesses of 6 to 12mils. Dr. Shrink | www.dr-shrink.com North American Clean Energy

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CanWEA 2008

Industrial rope access

Sensor mounting boom

An industrial rope access, training, and service supply company, Remote Access Technology Inc. caters to wind energy manufacturers and producers while providing an integrated mechanism for difﬁcult access, inspection, maintenance, and repair. The company’s business model is predicated on reducing overall costs for clients by minimizing downtime, mitigating critical path work, and offering asset integrity management solutions utilizing non-intrusive access methods. Remote Access Technology’s service deliverables include: rigging and equipment installation, certiﬁed visual inspections, blade repairs, hydraulic bolt torquing, paint and coating applications, welding, non-destructive testing, photo and video surveys, installation/inspection of ladder and engineered anchor systems, and industrial safety training and consulting.

NRG Systems, Inc. has introduced a longer, more rigid mounting boom that minimizes the effects of tower ﬂow distortion on the sensor and helps reduce uncertainty. The mounting boom is 95 inches long and uses a dual-beam design that assures stability in high winds while minimizing effects from ﬂow distortion. It meets or exceeds IEC 61400-12-1 recommendations for tower and boom offset distances. With a mast offset of 100 inches (10 diameters) for 10" diameter tubular towers and 99 inches (12.38 diameters) for 8.0" diameter tubular towers, the boom offset provides 20 diameters above the boom, exceeding the IEC recommendation of 15 diameters. The galvanized steel mounting bracket uses three heavy duty hose clamps, assuring secure mounting to tower. NRG Systems www.nrgsystems.com

Gearless turbines Northern Power continues to set the standard for advanced technology and high reliability in wind power. The company’s Northwind 100 turbine is sized speciﬁcally for villages, schools/ universities, commercial farms, municipalities, business campuses, and other similar distributed power applications. Northwind 100 utilizes gearless, directdrive architecture, and a permanent magnet generator to provide best-inclass energy capture and extremely low maintenance. It is currently available with six-month lead times. Northern is also developing a 2.2 MW turbine using the same advanced PMDD drive train technology, which will deliver increased energy capture, a lower O&M proﬁle, and improved grid power quality. The new Northern Power Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wind Power Holdings, Inc.

Commercial wind energy projects John Deere Wind Energy invests in and provides value-added services to wind projects such as project ﬁnancing, construction project management, wind turbine procurement, and wind energy technology and operations. As a codeveloper of commercial wind energy projects for a variety of customers and stakeholders, John Deere is involved in wind energy projects in commercial operation, or under development, in various states across the US, while continuing to investment in new projects and new locations. The current portfolio includes projects capable of producing more than 600 megawatts of electricity – which is enough to power up to 180,000 homes. John Deere Wind Energy www.johndeere.com

Northern Power www.northernpower.com

Remote Access Technology www.rat.ca

Leaders in Renewable Energy Engineering BOP Construction Installation Quality Control Operation & Maintenance

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September / October 2008

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ple Your Power • Our People

3D and 360° survey plans Using LiDAR data, together with conventional surveying methods, Midwest Surveys provides interactive, 3D site planning with optional views of bare ground with slopes and grades, existing infrastructure, vegetation, power lines, and/or proposed development and access roads. This advanced, spatial data interpretation technology can speed the planning and expedite project approval process with easy to understand virtual site simulations. Providing a range of geomatic services to the energy industry, Midwest also offers land surveying, mapping, 360° virtual site plans, and GIS. Midwest Surveys www.midwestsurveys.com

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show in print Balance of Plant As a Balance of Plant Contractor, White Construction is recognized as one of the top construction companies for installed megawatts in the US and Canada, providing a full-service, turnkey approach to wind farm and renewable power generation construction. Experience in several areas of renewable power generation has led to many diversiﬁed customers, and self-performing all aspects of wind farm construction and helped build the company’s reputation as a trusted partner. White Construction | www.whiteconstruction.com

Wind turbine maintenance and operations Mariah Resources Inc. is dedicated to streamlining and reducing costs associated with operating and maintaining wind turbine generators while setting the standard in wind turbine maintenance, site operations, commissioning, mobile maintenance, remote monitoring, as well as quality inspection and lubrication solutions. Headquartered in Lodi, California, Mariah Resources currently provides services throughout the US. The company has built its reputation by employing a workforce of elite, highly trained, experienced wind professionals.

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies

Mariah Resources Inc. www.mariahresources.com

portavisibility Utility-scale wind turbines Nordic Windpowers’ utility-scale wind turbines will be available for 2009 delivery to meet a backlog of demand across the industry. The ﬂexible, two-bladed design is ideal for northern regions with turbulent wind or harsh climates. The turbines also offer a lower purchase price, fewer crane lifts, high reliability, and easy maintenance. Nordic’s Pocatello, Idaho plant is coming online to meet the needs of community wind and large and small developers in North America. With ten years of trouble-free operations, Nordic turbines are based on a $75 million R&D investment by the Swedish government.

Introducing the XL Go. Its four-pound weight rede¿nes portability. Its bright LED light and crystal-clear LCD rede¿ne visibility. Put them together and you have an advanced VideoProbe® that will rede¿ne the way you work³no cords, no boxes, just outstanding image quality in an incredibly rugged and portable package. Please visit www.portavisibility.com for a closer look.

Nordic Windpower www.nordicwindpower.com North American Clean Energy

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CanWEA 2008

Portable video borescope

Turbine support systems

Electronic power converters

Accurate condition monitoring

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies’ announces their revolutionary XL Go VideoProbe. Weighing only 3.8lbs, XL Go is a portable, lightweight, high-resolution video borescope, ideal for inspections in small, hard-to-reach places. Applications range from use in pipelines and gas turbines to engines and steam generators, including inspection of windmills to detect any damage or defects without disassembly. Powered by a lithium ion battery, XL Go is cordless and has no tethers, offering increased access and ﬂexibility. The system’s durable tungsten braided insertion tube has 360-degree articulation, allowing for navigation in tight applications. Inspection results are captured as high-resolution images, or MPEG4 video for analysis or collaboration. USB data ports for ﬂash memory thumb drives enable additional data storage.

Con-Tech Systems supplies GeoSupport Systems to anchor wind turbine tower foundations, as well as transmission line towers. Con-Tech offers strand, high strength solid bar and CTS/TITAN Hollow Bar IBO Injection Bore System. The latter is particularly well-suited for transmission line towers in all ground conditions, especially sandy and gravelly soils, where it offers substantial advantages over conventional systems. Con-Tech Systems has also developed a post-tensioned deep foundation system as an alternative to concrete spread footings. This foundation is more economical than conventional mass foundations, as it requires substantially less concrete, is environmentally less intrusive, works in soil and rock, and can be easily monitored over its lifetime. The company backs up all their products through ongoing development and technical service to clients.

Xantrex delivered electronic power converters to the very first modern wind farm in America on the Altamont Pass in 1991. Now, over 3,000MW later, Xantrex leads the North American wind industry with the latest in converter designs, offering a range of electronic power converters for megawatt-scale wind turbines including doubly-fed and full conversion products. These new generation products enable wind turbines to meet the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requirements for Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT); thereby, allowing wind farms to contribute significantly to the stabilization of the utility grid. Xantrex wind converters are available with either air or water-cooled power electronic modules, providing flexibility in design and installation. They are also equipped with rugged construction, low electronic and audible noise, high efficiency and reliable operation.

When wind power assets age and deteriorate risk of failure and undesirable consequences increase. Reliability of the power supply is directly linked to the condition of the core assets supplying power. Matrikon Wind Power Solutions convert vast amounts of data into useful and insightful information that allows for effective asset condition monitoring, visualization, and assessment. The company provides wind energy producers with accurate condition monitoring and predictive diagnostic capabilities that can be used to support the decision-making process required for maintenance or replacement of high value assets. Matrikon not only allows you to assess and compare similar assets across a wide range of distributed stations, but also enables personnel to take appropriate actions to extend asset life across a wide range of distributed stations.

GE Inspection Technologies, LP www.ge.com

Con-Tech Systems Ltd. www.contechsystems.com

Complete wind farm service provider A dedicated service provider to North America’s Wind Energy Industry since 2004, Northwind Solutions provides a complete suite of essential services to OEM’s, developers, and constructors including: operations and maintenance; service; construction management; owner’s representatives; QA/QC; and, logistics. Northwind Solutions has established regional ofﬁce locations in Texas and Indiana in the USA, as well as in Ontario, Canada, and will continue to grow with the industry. This expansion strategy allows the company to mobilize service teams and provide responsive services anywhere in North America. Northwind Solutions’ highly trained technicians are equipped with a wide range of specialized tools, equipment, and capabilities to ensure wind farm quality and reliability. As an independent service provider, they are able to deliver a broad range of solutions that are customized to each customer’s site. Northwind Solutions | www.northwindsolutions.com

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Matrikon | www.matrikon.com

Xantrex | www.xantrex.com

Energy construction and maintenance Transelec Common Inc. specializes in construction and maintenance of energy networks, as well as transformation substation in industrial and commercial sectors. Through different divisions (TCI Civil, TCI Energy, and TCI Telecom), Transelec Common is able to execute all necessary phases required in any energy project, either electricity or windpower – from the engineering phase to commissioning and start-up, and from deforestation of land to maintenance of any components. Transelec Common Inc. www.transelec.com

High efﬁciency wind generators Clean Energy Technologies Inc. (CET) is a Calgary-based alternative energy company possessing the North American rights to a world-class wind power generator capable of efﬁciencies and operational advantages never before seen in the industry. Robust AFPM generators and fully kitted systems are available from 1kW to 500kW powers, with a 1MW unit available soon. Fully scalable and excellent for large commercial or industrial applications, the 50kW model, for example, can be integrated into various producing structures to reduce grid dependency and provide excess power to any generating facility. Clean Energy Technologies www.cleanenergytechnologies.net

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show in print Megawatt-sized turbines Using proven European technology to ensure optimal performance of turbines in all conditions and terrains, AAER Inc. is the only Canadian Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of megawatt-sized wind turbines. The company focuses on ﬂexibility, geographical proximity with clients, as well as customized services from manufacturing to maintenance and remote surveillance. AAER continues to pursue its breakthrough technologies in North America and Europe, with construction currently underway at the site of the Town of Portsmouth in Rhode Island, the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Barstow, California, and Criel Énergies SARL at Criel-sur-Mer in France. AAER Inc. | www.aaer.ca

Objective project mapping Identifying a potential site for an energy project of any scale is a critical step in the development process. AWS Truewind’s state-of-the-art wind prospecting application windNavigator provides unprecedented access to high-resolution, extensively validated, and accurate wind resource maps and data on the market. windNavigator’s numerous attractive features include: online access available anytime, anywhere; an objectively determined standard error margin of 0.35m/s for the mean speed at 80m; wind resource data from MesoMap, a widely tested and validated wind mapping system; highresolution wind information at a reﬁned grid scale of 200m, plus multiple heights above ground; and, project-scale maps and GIS data, which provide a clear picture of the wind resource and its spatial variability over an area. AWS Truewind www.navigator.awstruewind.com

Turnkey EBOP solutions Having been involved in many wind farm projects throughout Canada, KLine Group has the experience and expertise necessary to assist in any wind project development. Speciﬁcally, the K-Line Group of companies specializes in turnkey wind farm Electrical Balance of Plant (EBOP) solutions from 600V to 230kV. In-house capabilities include IESO and HONI submissions, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, distribution, transmission and substation construction, commissioning and maintenance services, as well as 24/7 emergency response. With almost 400 MW of Electrical BOP installed, K-Line Group has ofﬁces in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Rochester, New York, and is able to service North American and international markets alike. K-Line Group | www.k-line.ca North American Clean Energy

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investing in clean energy

Paying for Wind:

Costs and considerations of ﬁnancing wind energy projects By Dr. Stefan Schmitz

hen considering wind energy, lenders and investors tend to question if financing a wind project is in line with regular expectations and customs, or what adaptations need to be made to accommodate the particulars of such a project. Some of these particulars require a closer looks, especially in the US where growth rates have heightened in recent years. Naturally, any successful project depends on a sufficient cash flow. It is important to en-sure sufficient revenue is available not only for debt service, but also for operation and maintenance (O&M), as well as for insurance. At

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the beginning, it is also required for ﬁlling up respective reserve accounts. Therefore, any agreements and facts determining cash ﬂow are of paramount importance – just like they are for any other project. Wind projects, however, have some additional aspects in which they differ. One of them is the “fuel” of the project. In the case of wind, this aspect is often considered positive as wind is a free commodity – a considerable fact when compared with ever increasing fuel costs for traditional energy generation. Another positive is that wind can be predicted, nowadays very accurately. But,

if the wind refuses to blow, it cannot be bought to make up for its deficiencies. This means that utilities need to have generation on stand-by to compensate for any lack of wind generated electricity and, thereby, adding to the true costs of wind energy. Other concerns specific to the wind industry are those relating to equipment. One of the first questions any financing institution will ask, be they debt or equity, is whether a pro-ject has a secured supply of wind turbines. Turbines (or lack thereof) have been a bot-tleneck for wind projects over the last few years. The current shortage is expected to continue for at least another few years until increased capacity of existing manufactur-ers, and/or a build-up of new companies are able to meet demand. This shortage of tur-bines is aggravated by the shortage of crucial parts for them, notably gearboxes. In addition, costs for wind turbines have skyrocketed in recent years. This is in part a result of the supply-anddemand situation, which has turned this into a seller’s market (costs for vital parts of turbines, notably steel, has gone up considerably). So, in terms of financing wind projects, an interesting question is whether or not new turbine manu-facturers, with new and unproven technology, will be accepted and when. Banks would normally be rather hesitant to finance technology before they have seen it in (successful) operation and in a number of projects. In the interim, they will rely on opinions of their banker’s engineers, so it needs to be seen how they will adjudicate new technologies. Yet another aspect important to financing wind projects with new turbines relates to the financial strength of these suppliers. Banks are unlikely to accept turbines that come from manufacturers with a small balance sheet and a brief corporate history, as this could shed doubt on their ability to provide valid and honor warranties for their turbines, or O&M obligations. These firms will need to persuade the market, especially the finan-cial market, that not only their technology is good, but that they have the strength to warrant their performance. A major problem in a number of countries, notably the US, is transmission. This is common to energy generation in general, but is often associated with wind projects be-cause such projects do not replace another facility. An older facility, for instance, could rely

on existing grid connections, even if it required construction of new lines or an in-crease of capacity. In the US, the problem is so acute nowadays, banks may even start initial discussions with a borrower and sponsor by asking whether they have solved the issue of grid connection. Some regional grid operator companies in the States have a huge backlog of applications by wind projects to be connected, some without a realistic chance of being decided, much less connected, for a considerable time. Off-take of electricity for a wind project depends, first of all, on the legal framework in the country where they operate. A number of countries have placed wind and other re-newable energies in a privileged position in requiring utilities to buy all such energy generated at a certain price (a so-called “feed-in tariff,” which can be found in Germany, Spain, and France. It is also being discussed in certain US states). On the other end of the spectrum are countries that leave it entirely up to the utilities whether they want to buy renewable electricity, and at what price. About half the states in the US, for example, have taken a middle way – they require utilities to have a certain percentage of electric-ity from renewable energy. In America, these laws are referred to as renewable portfolio standards (RPS); in other countries (such as Poland or the UK), they are referred to as certificate or credit systems. The details of these laws vary significantly; however, a common thread among them is that they do not offer a guarantee that a wind project’s electricity will be bought by the utility. All these laws do is generate an artificial demand for renewable energy electricity and, thereby, increase the chances a project will be able to enter into a power purchase agreement with the utility – but at a price that needs to be negotiated and which de-pends on the demand by the utility and the supply of renewable electricity available. On a positive note, as most of these laws increase the percentage over time, demand for renewable electricity will stay and should allow many more wind energy projects to benefit from the demand they generate. Dr. Stefan Schmitz is a partner in the London office of law firm McDermott, Will & Emery LLP. McDermott, Will & Emery LLP www.mwe.com

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waste to energy

Forward-thinking: New England sawmill turns waste to energy By Steve Carter

I The 100% Biomass Flex Fuel Alternative to Fossil Coal

Introducing E-Coal, the Missing Link in the Fight to End Global Warming E-Coal is a 100% renewable and sustainable, biomass Flex Fuel alternative to fossil coal and natural gas. E-Coal can be used in any ratio with fossil coal without any retroÀtting, down time, loss of productivity, or service to customers in any coal burning power plant. It has all of the energy of fossil coal without the pollution. • CO2 Neutral / Negative • Cost Competitive with fossil coal • 100% Sustainable • Does Not Compete with Food Crops • Smokeless and Odorless

• No Land, Water or Air Pollution • InÀnite Supply • Cleaner, Cheaper and Safer than fossil coal • Upgraded Form of Biomass that is Superior to Regular Wood Pellets

For more information on the many uses of E-Coal please go to: www.newearth1.net/downloads/NewEarth_Gift_Article.pdf

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info@newearth1.net

n 1976, Peter Crowell and Arthur Durgin founded Durgin & Crowell in New London, New Hampshire with just six employees working a small, rough green sawmill specializing in Eastern White Pine. Thirty years later, Durgin & Crowell is a completely integrated forest resource company. Its manufacturing operations include a two-sided sawmill complex with two planer facilities, two cut-up shop areas, and 18 dry kilns. Employing more than 100 people, the company produces over 30 million board feet of lumber annually. This growth is largely a result of embracing new technology and forethought with regard to installing technically advanced equipment, while minimizing waste.

In 1987, Durgin & Crowell took their commitment to waste reduction, forestry, and the environment to the next level, partnering in a joint venture to build Hemphill Power and Light (now Springﬁeld Power) – a 16-megawatt cogeneration power plant located adjacent to its property. Presence of this plant in their region was believed to create a winwin dynamic because such a plant would provide foresters with an additional market for substandard wood, and ensure only the highest quality of logs would be sent to their sawmill; plus, any unusable wood by-products that were produced by Durgin & Crowell could be converted to quality biofuel for the power plant. To this day, all shorts at Durgin & Crowell go to the cut-up shop where they are cut into useful pieces, and any knotty sections are processed to make biofuel. The company has also devised other earth-friendly recycling programs

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for their by-products. For instance, green sawdust is burned to create steam used to heat dry kilns, wood shavings are sold to stables and farms, and quality chips are sold to paper manufacturers. Five years ago, Durgin & Crowell began an initiative to purchase and process additional waste wood, forestry debris, and other biomass. Local foresters, builders, contractors, and businesses contributed a range of materials including pallets, dimensional lumber, kiln-dried wood, brush, oversized logs, stumpwood, mill waste, and even “metal logs” carrying hard-to-remove nails. This mixed bag of biomass presented a real processing challenge. Consequently, Ben Crowell,

contributed to qualiﬁcation of the facility as a Connecticut Class I Renewable Energy Credit (REC) producer. Durgin & Crowell continues to supply Springﬁeld Power with approximately 120 tons of biofuel per week while continuing to grow their sawmill business and minimize operational costs. Having fueled or powered portions of their mill with alternative bio-

fuel for over two decades, current sights are set on installation of an onsite wood boiler. Once again, Durgin & Crowell has looked to CBI in Newton, New Hampshire, due to their proximity and specialization in engineering custom material processing systems (which, in this case will include a stationary wood hog and a conveyor system for the boiler). The end result will be increased

serving as the company’s fuel technician, purchased a Continental Biomass Industries, Inc. (CBI) Magnum Force 4000 grinder to convert the material into a biofuel ideal for this co-generation power plant – which now consumes 700 tons per week, 195,000 green tons of wood fuel per year, and yields 120,000 MWHrs per year of renewable electricity to the Lake Sunapee (NH) Region, sold under a Power Purchase Agreement. Success of this operation resulted in purchase of the power plant by Marubeni Sustainable Energy, Inc. (MSEI), headquartered in San Diego, California. This company shares Durgin & Crowell’s environmental vision and has recently made additional improvements, including installation of a polishing NOx scrubber system and upgrades to the plant’s boiler and central systems, all measures that

Continental Biomass Industries, Inc www.cbi-inc.com

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efﬁciency, proﬁtability, and growth. As Ben Crowell maintains: “What appears on the outside to be time-honored, traditional, New England sawmill is actually a constantly evolving business that leverages technology in order to grow and to help protect the environment.”

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VECOPLAN is a leading global manufacturer of preparation systems designed specifically for biomass feedstock pretreatment solutions. Size reduction is our specialty and we have designed and installed many systems worldwide, including thousands of shredding systems in North America. We are the preferred solution in many biofuel, bioenergy, fiber recovery and recycling applications. While shredding and size reduction is our focus, our systems approach enables us to provide complete, turnkey systems including automated sorting, conveying and separation technologies.

VECOPLAN systems can be found in sophisticated, commercial-scale RDF plants to lower-volume W-T-E pilot systems. Vecoplan is experienced in both American and European methods of biomass preparation, and is known for its rugged, unique, and proven shredding technology. Vecoplan pre-shredders and re-shredders offer a unique, patented cutting geometry which results in extremely low operational costs and produces a very homogenous particle consistency. Award-winning energy saving HiTorc™ drives provide more throughput per kilowatt than conventional shredders - maximizing net energy gains.

VECOPLAN designs pre-treatment shredders and systems for: Agricultural Crop Residues – stover and other cellulosic matter • Trees, Wood Residue and Green Wastes Energy Crops • MSW, Food Residue and Other Organics • Other Renewables ;dg BdgZ >c[d K^h^i

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North American Clean Energy

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waste to energy

Large-capacity oil boiler

Horizontal end-feed grinder

Clean Burn has introduced a large-capacity, used-oil coil tube boiler â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CB-500-CTB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which can recycle 3.6 gallons of used oil per hour, much larger volumes than the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original CB-200-CTB and CB-350-CTB models. Industry demand from companies that produce large amounts of waste oil and require hot water (such as construction companies, heavy equipment, ďŹ&#x201A;eet contractors, and car wash facilities), drove development of this expanded unit size, which can handle the large heating load required for bigger buildings. Designed to recycle used oil and produce hot water, CB-500-CTB can be used for in-ďŹ&#x201A;oor, baseboard, and space heating, as well as for ice-melt applications. The unit has an input rating of 500,000 BTU, weighs 1,600 pounds, and can heat an area of more than 12,000 square feet. CB-500-CTB also has a lowmass design that holds just 20.6 gallons of water, yet 37 gallons per minute ďŹ&#x201A;ow through the coil.

Cresswood Shredding Machineryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upgraded EF-12SR is a space-saving, horizontal end-feed grinder. With its width trimmed from 57 inches down to 35 inches, it is 39% smaller than previous models. The grinderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s redesigned motor mount location, and low-proďŹ le frame and guards, allow it to be positioned to the right or left of a saw. By standing in closer proximity to a waste stream, EF-12SR eliminates the need for an extra chute or conveyor to receive rippings and small blocks. Its straight-line design and standard 10-foot vibrating conveyor save on labor and equipment costs, and enable shops to make the best use of tight space. EF-12SR is available with a 25 or 30 horsepower motor, and features a grinding head that operates at 300 rpm to 600 rpm. The geometry of the cutterhead delivers exceptional throughput in grinding edge rippings, wood strips, and molding. Feed rates adjust to processing requirements of the cutterhead, and a sizing screen determines the size of particles exiting the machine.

Clean Burn | www.cleanburn.com

Cresswood Shredding Machinery | www.cresswood.com

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www.petersoncorp.com 1-800-269-6520

Phone: (972) 790-7800 Fax: (972) 790-8733 sales@granutech.com

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Gasiﬁcation Technology: Thermal Utilization of Caloriﬁc Waste By Barton Shasha

multi-stage gasiﬁcation process followed by multi-stage gas treatment and conditioning. IMG is a low-polluting technology with scrubbers and ﬁlters that prevent emission of hazardous gases and particulate matter. Producing a synthetic gas, the system ensures complete treatment of all gaseous toxic substances and inertization of

residues, so that no dioxins and furans are present in the gas. IMG is also designed with a heat recovery system. A 120.000 MT p.a. capacity IMG ﬁrst commercial plant is under construction, and will employ all regional waste generated in the region of Bassov, Romania, which will be energetically used in gas engines and boilers

for electricity and heat production. About 98% of the waste input will be utilized, leaving 2% of inert residue to be deposited; thereby, reducing pressure on landﬁlls and minimizing environmental degradation. Bellwether Gasiﬁcation Technologies Ltd. www.bgt-online.com/index_en.html

ontrary to certain views, waste plays a paradoxal role in our lives and is unavoidable. Even the most efficient and wellmanaged waste management system remains widely unnoticed in the communities it serves. Not until disaster or other problems arise that affect this sytem does the omnipresence of waste really come to light. Today, the world is facing an alarming waste management crisis as landfill space is running out, and attributed environmental concerns are increasing. Stringent regulations are being implemented in most parts of the world, prohibiting or limiting landfilling and setting targets tailored at cutting down greenhouse gas emissions considerably. International conventions including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol are examples of such regulations, encouraging and committing nations to stabilize and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is undeniably linked to waste management. Skyrocketing oil and raw material prices, the negative image of incineration, and other waste treatment methods have accelerated development of new and clean technologies with special attention focused on the utilization of waste for energy production, and other valuable substances. The International Energy Agency forecasts that worldwide energy demand will increase by more than half untill 2030; whereas, resources will become more and more scarce. Therefore, a future challenge lies in striking a balance between energy security and environmental protection. Thermochemical processes, like pyrolysis and gasification, are bound to play a vital role because of their additional potential of recovering valuable materials from waste. German company Bellwether Gasification Technologies Ltd. has developed a groundbreaking gasification technology, which processes all types of calorific waste and biomass to produce a clean, synthesis gas that can be used in a variety of applications. Known as Integrated Multifuel Gasification (IMG), the technology involves a North American Clean Energy

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EBW show 2008

Show in Print Features just some of the companies and technologies attendees will see at this year’s show.

Energy from Biomass and Waste October 14-16, 2008 David L Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania How will we fuel our future? What makes biomass sustainable? How can energy from waste contribute to clean, affordable power, and fuel supply? The second international exposition and conference on Energy from Biomass and Waste (EBW) has made it a mission to answer these questions, along with over 80 organizations from the US and around the world, which will showcase products and services for clean, reliable power, and fuel supply.

Single pass chipper rotor

Multiple fuel combustion boiler

Continental Biomass Industries’ Magnum Force 6400 with 4-Pocket Chipper Rotor produces uniform 3mm-6mm chips in a single pass, which means the process of pelletizing to make wood pellets is more efﬁcient and cost-effective. In many case, hammermill processes can be eliminated. Plus, these chips (2mm30mm) are ideal for wood boilers. With three other ﬁeld-swappable rotors, users can go from chipping to make biofuel to grinding trees and stumps into mulch or processing contaminated C&D, and even grinding railroad ties with tie plates still attached. Adding a single machine can increase an operation’s opportunities and provide the agility required to adapt to the market’s changing needs.

Bio-Fuel Technologies incorporates three components required for efﬁcient combustion of solid fuel: time, temperature, and turbulence. A combination of over-ﬁre air and air passing through the fuel bed provides turbulence required for rapid and complete combustion of solid fuel. The company’s Chain Grate Stoker design, with its large combustion area, ensures total fuel combustion. Complete and fully integrated systems, these boilers are low maintenance and function from a single touch-screen panel. They can burn corn cobs, manures, wood chips, sawdust, and many other materials, and have an automated ash and soot removal. The boilers allow you to turn your existing waste into heat, and reduce or eliminate fuel costs.

Continental Biomass Industries Inc. www.cbi-inc.com

Bio-Fuel Technologies LLC www.bio-fueltechnologiesllc.com

Pelleting presses KAHL pelleting presses have been used successfully for compacting organic products of different particle sizes, moisture contents, and bulk densities. The conditioned residual waste is sold in form of pellets or fluff. Primary buyers of pellets are the operators of gasification plants and power stations; whereas, fluff is mainly used as an alternative fuel to oil or coal dust in the cement industry and in power stations. Application possibilities of KAHL plants for the recycling industries include: mechanical/biological waste treatment, waste tires recycling plants (granulate), wood (sawdust, savings, sander dust), municipal sewage sludge, and agricultural biomass (straw, compost, fertilizer). Services include consultation, assistance in obtaining approvals, engineering, commissioning, installation, and after-sales service. AMANDUS KAHL GmbH & Co. KG www.akahl.de

Rotary waste shredder Vecoplan’s Hurricane dual shaft shredder is a two-story high machine designed to process C&D debris, MSW, plastics, wood, paper, and all types of organic matter. Hurricane’s throughput of 100 tons-plus per hour makes quick work of big municipal composting projects, alternative fuel preparation jobs, as well as large scale recycling and size reduction needs. A dedicated drive motor (available as either hydraulic drive motors or as Vecoplan’s patented energy saving HiTorc electric drive motors) powers each of its twin cutting rotors. Other features include: hydraulic aggregates with high torque pumps, encased in sound enclosures; a center anvil with a replaceable hard-faced counter knife, and removable screen grates for consistent particle output size; hydraulically operated double-wing drop-down doors for easy access to the cutting chamber; and, built-in tramp metal protection to minimize downtime. Vecoplan | www.vecoplanllc.com

May 3 - 6, 2009 “Strive for Sustainability”

s 2 ½ Days of Presentations s 90 Technical Sessions s Boat, Hike, Horseback Riding, Fishing & Golf s Expanded Trade Show s Industry Update s Networking and much more...

Intelligence tool for complex plant processes INP offers not only its knowledge in automation and control, but also its expertise in systems for complex processes using fuzzy control as an intelligent tool for high-level operation of plants. Optimization of energy systems contributes to higher efﬁciency, less pollution, and reduced operating costs. With a combination of process engineering, automation, and innovative control systems, higher reliability can be achieved, along with safety for processes in power plants, incineration plants, steam, and power generation plants. With US-Link-Concept, INP provides: integration of Western-European technology into US-systems; US-solutions for European operations; adaptation of European standards and codes for US applications; servicing of equipment with European technology; maintenance; and, multilingual and multicultural personnel. INP | www.inp-e.com

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Equipment for production of RDF Electrostatic precipitators

High processing waste grinder

To address the variety of air impurities produced in modern manufacturing and production processes, Weis Environmental has developed highly efficient filtration devices called electrostatic precipitators, which easily remove fine particulate matter, such as dust and smoke, from the air stream using an induced electrostatic charge. Weis Environmental produces a range of electrostatic precipitators, manufactured by BETH, which include Dry ESPs and a Wet ESP. Dry ESPs are available in three models with a variety of sizes in each model, as well as an industrial model that is individually designed for each client. The Wet ESP is designed for any process in which special dust or gas characteristics make dry separation impossible. An additional benefit is the binding to toxic elements such as HCl, SO2, NaCl, and HF.

Granutech-Saturn Systems’ Grizzly Grinder is a size-reduction system that has been successful in high-volume processing of waste at low cost; in processing light fraction MSW prior to palletizing; and, as a secondary processor in mixed waste operations to efﬁciently create fuel product. Available with either a 300hp or 400hp drive motor in two models – either an 80-inch (model 80) or a 96-inch (model 96) wide-cutting chamber – the Grizzly is powered by a TEFC electric motor and heavy-duty gear reducer. Durable, efﬁcient, and easy to maintain, its heavyduty, single-shaft rotor construction and proprietary blade design allow the greatest material size reduction with minimal blade wear. The Grizzly produces a smaller, cleaner, and more uniform material that offers improved performance of downstream equipment and, in many cases, may replace such equipment altogether.

Weis Environmental www.weis-environmental.com

Granutech-Saturn Systems Corporation www.granutech.com

Thermal hydrolysis

WEIMA America offers single machines for size reduction, as well as complete waste recycling systems tailored to a customer’s speciﬁc needs – and both can be customized to handle waste volumes of 1-50 tons/ hr. Whether it is MSW or C&D, WEIMA’ energy line of equipment can provide the right particle uniformity needed for burning in suspension, cubing, or pelletizing. WEIMA America is introducing their ECOLINE to the US market. This single-shaft economical shredder has been speciﬁcally designed for a smaller processor who wants to utilize features of the larger PowerLine without the need for its extreme shredding capacity.

Thermal Hydrolysis Process provides an economical resolution to the problem of biomass pre-treatment, which allows expansion of the cellulose and hemi-cellulose breaking the lignin barrier due to differential high temperature and pressure with the biomass. Fouling free and continuous, this process also recovers valuable energy exchanged between hot and cold biomass. This technology can be installed in existing plants to enhance yields and speed up a return on investment. Applications are in biogas and bioethanol. HRS Process Technology, Inc. www.hrs-americas.com

WEIMA America, Inc. www.weimaamerica.com

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Horizontal, track grinder Peterson Pacific’s 2710C is the latest generation of high production track grinders. Designed for frequent moves between jobs, this compact grinder is 59000 pounds (27000 kg) with an option of two Caterpillar engines: a C13 engine (475 horsepower) or a C15 (580 horsepower). With its large feed opening, it quickly reduces a wide range of material. 2710C utilizes Peterson’s Impact Release System allowing settings in detent mode for consistent product sizing, or the floating anvil mode for a primary reduction where accurate sizing is less critical. The Adaptive Control System, with self-diagnostics and fault indicators, make troubleshooting easy, and an optional on-board modem permits remote diagnostics and monitoring of many machine parameters. Other features include a quick-change multiple grate system, to easily customize grate configurations, and Peterson’s Impact Cushion System, where urethane cushions reduce impacts from contaminants in the feed material. Peterson Pacific Corp. www.petersoncorp.com

Unloading and material handling process KEITH Mfg. Co. is the creator of the material handling technology, WALKING FLOOR trailer unloading systems, and supplies bulk handling equipment. Products include fuel receiving and storage, as well as metering bins. This unique, reciprocating slat system solves bridging problems associated with solid fuels, and reduces maintenance required by traditional chain, screw, and belt designs. A reliable storage and metering system is necessary to deliver fuel sources for energy production. WALKING FLOOR systems can be adapted for storing and metering nearly any material, providing a low-maintenance solution for energy generation. In addition, WALKING FLOOR storage bins can be totally enclosed and fed by a conveyor, or fed overhead from bucket loaders. Keith Mfg. Co. www.keithwalkingfloor.com North American Clean Energy

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biomass and biofuels

Industrial Facilities Embrace Renewable Energy in Form of Onsite Biomass By Thomas Meth and Brandon Ogilvie

long-established paper mill operating in the state of Mississippi has found a new use for the natural resource on which its business depends. In December 2007, the Wiggins, Mississippi operation began converting wood residue to natural gas as a primary source of energy fueling its operations. This conversion is drastically reducing the plant’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.

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The new, onsite renewable energy facility uses wood residue, typically viewed as a waste by-product, into steam used in the plant’s paper-making process. This biomass facility (built, owned, and operated under a multi-year energy supply agreement with Richmond, Virginia-based Intrinergy), will provide a clean, steady, and cost-effective supply of energy to the paper plant over the next 15 years.

With rising fossil fuel costs and concerns about global climate change, an increasing number of industrial facilities are turning to clean, renewable sources like biomass, wind, and solar to meet their energy needs. Biomass-based renewable energy systems are proving to be a viable solution for many industries. Biomass – a collective term for materials of recent biological origin such as wood residues, crops, agricul-

tural wastes, and organic industrial by-products – distinguishes itself from other renewable energy alternatives by providing a reliable and ﬂexible source of energy on an as-needed basis. For example, unlike wind and solar-based energy systems that are impaired by uncontrollable and unpredictable changes in weather and nightfall, biomass-based energy is available at any time, can be scaled in real-time to meet variations in demand, and often allows for highefﬁciency cogeneration of both heat and electrical power, also known as combined heat and power (CHP). Across the United States in 2007, renewable biomass facilities running on wood residue generated over 10 million MWh of electrical power (US Department of Energy EIA Annual Energy Review 2007). Economic viability of biomass-based renewable energy systems is increasingly more attractive as dependency on foreign oil, and today’s unpredictable global economy, have left industrial manufacturers at the mercy of a volatile energy market. Once perceived as too costly, biomass systems have become an economical solution courtesy of advances in technology, improvements in management of biomass supply chains,

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tax incentives, and emerging markets for carbon offsets and renewable energy certiﬁcates (REC) generated by such clean-energy operations. Environmental beneﬁts of biomassbased renewable energy systems are well-

by rising costs of oil and gas, are beginning to show an interest in energy from biomass. Owners of a wood-ﬁred biomass energy plant Regency Holdings Inc., for example, plan to sell the electricity that this facility produces to two

Projects and partnerships such as these, which address obstacles facing biomass-based cogeneration, are occurring with more frequency. In the case of Intrinergy, company executives recognized early on that many industrial clients

To satisfy a demand for clean, low-cost, onsite power generation without incurring technological, financial, and operational risks of owning and operating a power plant in-house, heavy industrial users of steam or electricity are contracting with independent energy utilities, like Intrinergy, to deliver a fully-outsourced, long-term solution. documented and recognized by leading authorities on greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an administrative arm of the Kyoto Protocol, allows operators of biomass facilities in developing countries to monetize environmental benefits of switching from fossil fuels to biomass by issuing carbon offsets to biomass project developers. In the US, emerging voluntary carbon markets have created a similar funding mechanism that provides incremental revenue for operators of domestic biomass energy facilities. Moreover, advanced technologies, such as the biomass process used in Wiggins, deliver improved efficiencies with cleaner results. To satisfy a demand for clean, lowcost, onsite power generation without incurring technological, financial, and operational risks of owning and operating a power plant in-house, heavy industrial users of steam or electricity are contracting with independent energy utilities, like Intrinergy, to deliver a fully-outsourced, long-term solution. Yet another example of the growing popularity of biomass-based energy, Ohio paper company Smart Paper Holdings LLC is building a cogeneration facility that will use biomass for its power-generation needs when it opens in 2009. Even major utilities, spurred

Arizona electricity utilities. Running on forest thinnings and by-products from a nearby paper mill, the plant will generate enough electricity to supply 9,000 customers.

want help with a wide range of project considerations that exist in setting up a renewable biomass facility, including everything from ﬁnancing to sourcing biomass feedstock. By designing, permit-

ting, building, financing, operating, and maintaining facilities that deliver steam or electricity to its industrial customers, under long-term purchase agreements, Intrinergy assumes financial, technical, and operational risks and responsibilities on its clients’ behalf. This allows clients to focus on their core operations without additional overhead that relates to managing an onsite renewable energy facility. Fully owned and operated by Intrinergy, Wiggins Mississippi’s biomass facility delivers up to 50,000 pounds of steam per hour and is expected to reduce the paper plant’s energy costs by up to 40%. Converting biomass to renewable energy also reduces the volume of industrial by-products that are disposed in landfills, which is a further source of cost-savings and environmental stewardship. In total, this facility will reduce the plant’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels by 20,000 tons per year, equivalent to annual emissions of 3,600 cars or electricity used by 2,600 homes. Such economical and environmental savings allow paper mills to remain competitive without downsizing core operations, to endure global economic downturns and volatile fossil fuel prices more effectively, and to remain at the forefront of environmentally sound practices. Writers Thomas Meth and Brandon Ogilvie are Intrinergy’s executive vice president and business development manager, respectively. Intrinergy operates biomass facilities co-located on clients’ industrial sites, and is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels by more than 200,000 tons per year by the end of 2009. Intrinergy | www.intrinergy.com

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biomass and biofuels

biomass & biofuels news briefs RENEW is a consortium of 31 European entities that recently concluded its four-year, 20 million study evaluating six different production routes for second generation renewable biomass-to-liquid (BtL) fuels. The report states that demonstration on a commercial scale of the most advanced BtL concepts is of utmost importance, and that the Chemrec process is ready for such a demonstration. The Chemrec process to convert biomass to motor fuels, based on black liquor gasification, has the highest conversion efficiency, the lowest product cost, and the highest green house gas emission reduction amongst the studied processes in the RENEW project. The Chemrec process is also one of two recommended for demonstration in industrial scale. “The examination shows that our route from biomass to renewable motor fuels is the best both regarding cost, at 0.5/litre diesel equivalent, and efficiency at 69%,” says Chemrec CEO Jonas Rudberg, “and, perhaps even more significantly, has a technology maturity that makes it suitable for demonstration at commercial scale today.” One of the main drivers for BtL fuels is climate protection and the potential for achieving a reduction in greenhouse gases emissions. Chemrec process reduces CO2 emissions by 95%, while simultaneously increasing security of fuel supply. The evaluated Chemrec process is designed as an integral part of a pulp mill and produces an environmentally friendly, carbonneutral diesel fuel, DME (dimethyl ether). Its high-efficiency is due to a shift to more advanced technology in the energy and chemical recovery area of the pulp mill, as well as the high-efficiency achievable in DME and methanol synthesis. In the process, biomass is converted to BtL fuels utilizing a highly concentrated liquefied biomass stream in the pulp mill, so called black liquor. The process uses locally available biomass, not competing with food production.

OriginOil, Inc., developer of a breakthrough technology that transforms algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum. As much of the world’s oil and gas is made up of ancient algae deposits, this technology will produce “new oil” from algae, through a cost-effective, highspeed manufacturing process. An endless supply of new oil can be used for many products such as diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, plastics, and solvents without the global warming effects of petroleum. Other oil producing feedstock such as corn and sugarcane often destroy vital farmlands and rainforests, disrupt global food supplies, and create new environmental problems. OriginOil’s technology is targeted at fundamentally changing the source of oil 76

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without disrupting the environment or food supplies. The company exhibited publicly for the ﬁrst time at the Green Tech Expo in mid-August in Los Angeles. In a tour of the Expo booths, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger met with chief executive ofﬁcer Riggs Eckelberry and cofounder Nicholas Eckelberry, discussing the promise of algae-to-oil technologies, OriginOil’s vision and plans for the future.

Environmental Protection Agency, in a significant boost for United States ethanol producers, has denied a request to grant Texas a 50% waiver from a federal mandate on biofuels. If Texas had won the vote, it would have led to similar challenges from other US states, having the potential to substantially reduce ethanol production over coming years. This decision will instead accelerate the boom in ethanol production in the US, which has attracted massive investments from companies like British Petroleum, DuPont, Cargill, and Archer Daniels Midland. It is also expected to renew confidence in the industry in Brazil, Europe, and other major producers and consumers.Industry insiders have said the ruling will advance the arrival of cellulosic and other next-generation biofuels produced from non-agricultural sources. Many of such technologies are scheduled to enter commercial production in the next few years, once a few remaining technical and financial barriers are ironed out.

Innovation Fuels, a New York-based renewable fuel company, announced production of the first biodiesel (more than 15,000 barrels or 2,000 metric tons) to leave New York Harbor bound for Rotterdam. This marks an initial shipment serving European customers through Innovation Fuels Europe, a joint venture between Innovation Fuels and Arpadis Group. This landmark voyage follows the company’s recent closure on a $15.5 million financing round, led by Credit Suisse Customized Fund Investment Group on behalf of New York Common Retirement Fund (NYCRF), RNK Capital, and Lyrical Partners. Innovation Fuels is the first biodiesel refinery company supported by all three institutional investors.

Canadian Renewable Fuels Association recently

Biométhodes, a French biotech-

congratulated Terra Grain Fuels on commencement of an ethanol production at

nology company in Evry, has signed an exclusive and worldwide option-to-license agreement with Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. (VTIP) for multiple technologies for converting biomass to bioethanol and biohydrogen. An integrated biorefinery pilot plant in Virginia is envisioned to advance the process for the conversion of biomass into ethanol and valuable co-products, focusing especially on biomass pre-treatment. The process for transformation of biomass into hydrogen will be developed in France, and will be validated through a biohydrogen fuel cell prototype and small-scale model car. These processes were invented by Percival Zhang, assistant professor of biological systems engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. According to Gilles Amsallem, Biométhodes chief executive officer, “The pilot plant will integrate two major technologies – Virginia Tech’s pre-treatment process, which breaks down biomass, and Biométhodes’ hydrolysis enzyme optimization technology to improve the cellulose degradation into fermentable sugars.” Goals are to increase hydrolysis efficiency, optimize production of enzymes, reduce enzyme cost, and then do industrial scale testing with a commercial process deployment. “Our strategy is to enable next generation of biocatalysts and biofuels by co-developing pre-industrial processes, to be further integrated by industrial partners,” Amsallem said.

its facility in Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan. The plant can produce up to 150 million litres of ethanol annually, and 163,800 tonnes of dried distillers grains. Distillers grains are a co-product of wheat and corn-based ethanol that are used as a high-protein livestock feed. “This new Terra Grain Fuels plant shows the true promise of ethanol in Canada, said Gordon Quaiattini, president of Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. “It adds to our fuel supply, and it helps agriculture by creating a new market for farmers and a new supply for livestock feed. This $150 million facility will also boost the local and regional economy, reduce greenhouse gases, and help moderate prices at the pump for drivers.” The federal government recently passed a landmark biofuels bill which will require 5% renewable content in gasoline by 2010, and 2% renewable content in diesel fuel by no later than 2012. According to Natural Resources Canada’s GHGenius lifecycle model, this federal renewable fuel standard will result in a 4.2 megatonne reduction in harmful greenhouse gas emissions – an equivalent of removing over one million cars and their CO2 emissions from Canadian roads, every year.

Mass flow meter for biofuel and biomethane applications Fluid Components International (FCI) recently released its Model ST51 Mass Flow Meter, designed specifically to measure biogas and all methane composition gases including natural gas. Packaged in an explosion-proof transmitter, with calibration matched to a user’s actual gas composition and installation conditions, it is safe, easy to install, and virtually maintenance free. Its non-clogging, no-moving-parts design operates over a wide flow range, with low-flow sensitivity, and it includes built-in temperature compensation circuitry for accurate, repeatable measurement as temperatures rise and fall. It operates over a turndown range of 100:1, withstands pressures up to 500 psig [34 bar (g)], and is approved for use in hazardous environments. The ST51 flow meter is rich with outputs for user interfaces and information, and an optional integral digital display features a two-line, 16-character LCD screen that can be rotated in 90-degree increments for optimum viewing flexibility. For applications with difficult access or display readability, ST51’s flow transmitter is also available in a remote mount configuration that can be mounted up to 50 feet (15m) away from the flow element inserted the pipe. Fluid Components International LLC www.fluidcomponents.com

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Biomass liquid flex fuel alternative NewEarth E-Oil is a 100% biomass – using mostly cellulosic-based biomass, not from food crops – liquid flex fuel alternative to fossil oil, made with the highest degree of sustainability. E-Oil can be used without any refinement for electric power generation at facilities that currently use petroleum/ fossil oil. However, when refined, E-Oil can be made into several forms of liquid transportation fuel, like bio-diesel (for trains, trucks, cars, sea vessels, etc.), bio-jet fuel (commercial and military grade), and bio-gas (for all types of passenger vehicles). E-Oil is CO2 neutral, virtually sulfur-free (SO2 is basically undetectable), has 50% lower NOx than fossil fuels like diesel, and no mercury. An environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum fuels, EOil can be used in existing worldwide power infrastructures and global transportation systems. NewEarth Renewable Energy Inc. | www.newearth1.net

Explosion-proof temperature transmitter REOTEMP’s heavy-duty industrial temperature transmitter is a high accuracy, high reliability, and low-cost alternative to smart temperature transmitters. This product is used in a variety of industrial applications such as oil and gas, power generation, and ethanol. The sensor features an easy-to-read digital display for local indication, along with a standard 4-20mA output for remote processing. Hart, Foundation ﬁeldbus, and Proﬁbus protocol options are available. 316SS probe can be ordered spring-loaded for insertion into a thermowell, or welded for direct immersion into the process. REOTEMP Instruments www.reotemp.com

Plasma-optical emissions spectrometers PerkinElmer’s Optima 7000 Series of Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emissions Spectrometers (ICP-OES) are designed for best-in-class inorganic analysis, and are used in a variety of markets including environmental, geochemical, product testing, and biofuels. This newest generation Optima series includes a Universal Data Acquisition mode that records all spectral data for each sample, enabling customers to retrieve data not initially reported without needing to run the sample again; thereby, saving time and increasing productivity. Optima 7000 Series also has several timesaving enhancements for laboratory personnel. For rapid review of results, an error flag shows if a sample result falls above or below a user-specified value. To ensure a consistently high level of data without requiring additional resources, the instrumentation can automatically generate Quality Control (QC) charts that show results for analyses run over a specified period of time. Addition of modern electronics extends the instrument’s lifetime, providing enhanced return-on-investment over previous technology. PerkinElmer, Inc. www.perkinelmer.com

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geothermal energy

Brief Anatomy of a Geothermal Power Purchase Agreement By William H Holmes

geothermal resource differs from other energy sources in that it is both renewable and reliable. When it comes to a geothermal power purchase agreement (PPA), certain basic features exist. For starters, a seller is usually the project developer; whereas, the buyer is often a utility that purchases a plant’s output to serve load or to comply with a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). Because a PPA term is often deﬁned by reference to a commercial operation date – a date on which all portions of the project necessary to put it into operation, along with the interconnection facilities to the transmission system, are both authorized and able to operate and deliver energy – it sets

the high side of the transformer at the project substation. (In a busbar transaction, a buyer provides the transmission required to transmit energy from the plant to the point where the buyer intends to use it, or deliver it, to another party in a resale transaction). The PPA may also require a seller to deliver energy to a speciﬁc point on the transmission system, in which case the seller will be responsible for obtaining transmission to the delivery point. Transmission ancillary services, which can be costly, should be speciﬁcally allocated in the PPA. The contract price is also a very important part of

Geothermal plants differ from wind and other resources in that they may have significant station service requirements for extracting, re-injecting, processing, or otherwise using the geothermal resource. a point at which the PPA price switches from a “test energy rate” to a higher “contract rate.” Accordingly, a PPA must carefully define the commercial operation date. PPAs often include off-ramp provisions that enable one or both parties to terminate the agreement without penalty (ex. a party’s inability to obtain a key agreement or permit). Termination rights require careful negotiation, and both parties will want to limit the other party’s right to terminate. Furthermore, a PPA should carefully define a delivery point at which energy will be sold. In a busbar sale, this point will be

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September / October 2008

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a power purchase agreement. This price may be flat or escalate over time. An escalating price sometimes begins to rise with reference to the commercial operation date; thereby, encouraging a seller to achieve commercial operation as soon as possible. Since geothermal energy is a reliable base-load resource, a buyer may sometimes pay a separate price for the plant’s capacity. This capacity charge is usually stated in dollars per kW-month, or kW-year. In addition, geothermal energy is considered to be renewable and, as a result, comes with renewable energy credits (RECs). A power purchase agreement should clearly state whether or not RECs are bundled with the sale of electricity – PPAs that are silent on this point have been embroiled in disputes about whether the project owner, or buyer owns the RECs. A PPA should also make it clear that state and federal tax credits, as well as incentives are not included in RECs. Geothermal plants differ from wind and other resources in that they may have significant station service requirements for extracting, re-injecting, processing, or otherwise using the geothermal resource. A seller should clarify that it retains RECs associated with the station service, in case there is an imbalance between RECs delivered electricity. Generally, a seller prefers a PPA that requires selling the project’s output only if this project is actually built; a buyer tends to view such a PPA as a “put,” and will usually insist a seller makes a binding commitment to build the project. Therefore, the PPA often includes a schedule of certain project milestones (for example, a “notice to proceed” date, or a guaranteed commercial operation date). If a seller fails to achieve a milestone, the buyer may have a right to terminate the PPA, collect damages, or require the seller to post additional credit support. A seller will want to limit the number of milestones and bargain for flexibility. A PPA may further require a seller to guarantee that a project will meet certain performance standards. For

instance, an output guarantee requires a seller to pay a buyer if the output during a speciﬁed period fails to meet a minimum level. A seller’s data regarding the project’s geothermal resource will be crucial in determining the right level for an output guarantee. If the resource is expected to degrade, the PPA may adjust performance standards downward during the term. If a guarantee is not met, the PPA calculates damages owed to a buyer as a result of this shortfall. A shortfall is usually multiplied by a price per megawatt hour determined by reference to an index or other objective price. The PPA may also include an adjustment to account for an assumed value of environmental attributes. The amount of liquidated damages is usually determined periodically, and a seller will often press for annual or aggregate damages caps. A power purchase agreement often describes circumstances in which either party has a right to curtail output. A seller may have a right to curtail if the plant suffers an emergency, or a buyer may be permitted to curtail for convenience – in which case a PPA usually requires a buyer to pay for the curtailed generation, plus the after-tax value of any lost production tax credits. A PPA’s force majeure clause is very important and should carefully distinguish between events that are “excuses” (which relieve the affected party from the duty to perform), and those that are “risks” (which are allocated to one party or the other). For geothermal projects, sellers may want a force majeure clause to address unexpected depletions of the geothermal resource. Buyers will insist that normal resource degradation does not excuse a seller’s performance. The power purchase agreement will list events that constitute defaults. If a default is not cured within an agreed-upon period, a non-defaulting party can terminate the agreement. A seller may seek to limit its aggregate damages in case of default. If the PPA is based on forms commonly used in trading and shortterm transactions, care must be taken to override termination payment components that are not desirable in a long-term PPA. The PPA for a geothermal plant will resemble a PPA for any other generating facility, and the metering, invoicing and boilerplate provisions from a conventional PPA can be readily imported into a geothermal one. There are, however, some unique issues involving RECs, resources degradation, capacity charges, station service, and operational force majeure events that must be dealt with differently in a geothermal PPA than they are in other renewable energy agreements. William Holmes concentrates his practice in the area of energy law, with a special emphasis on renewable energy. He is included in the 2007 and 2008 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in Energy Law and Environmental Law. Stoel Rives LLP | www.stoel.com

nacleanenergy.com

9/6/08 7:23:01 PM

geothermal energy news briefs Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) released a recent survey that shows continued growth in the number of new geothermal power projects under development in the US, with a 20% increase since January of this year. The report identified 103 projects underway in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Once developed, these projects could provide nearly 4,000 MW of new electric power, enough electricity to meet the needs of roughly four million homes. Current geothermal capacity online is 2,957 MW according to the report and, with the new additions geothermal power, could reach nearly 7,000 MW. Given the high reliability and capacity factors for geothermal power, this would meet the household electricity needs of the cities of Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Seattle combined. Development of these new projects will provide significant economic benefits, according to GEA. “These new projects will result in the infusion of roughly $15 billion in capital investment in the western states, and create 7,000 permanent jobs and more than 25,000 person-years of construction and manufacturing employment,” said Karl Gawell, GEA’s Executive Director.

VOLUME 2

US Geothermal Inc. announced the first full-size production well (NHS-1) at the Neal Hot Springs Project (located in eastern Oregon, approximately 90 miles northwest of Boise) was successfully completed at the end of May, and an initial flow test confirmed the presence of a geothermal reservoir. Now results from a second, higher-rate flow test of the first production well (NHS-1) further indicate the well has significant energy potential and reconfirm the presence of a commercial geothermal reservoir. The second flow test, a step-rate-test with pressure buildup, was conducted for 12 hours, and resulted in a flowing production temperature of 286.5º F (141º C), approximately 10 degrees higher than the initial test. The new well flowed under artesian pressure at a peak rate of 2,055 gallons per minute

(“gpm”), and was then stepped down to a lower flow rate of 1,210 gpm before it was shut in and the pressure build-up monitored. “This second test allowed the well to flow without restriction and resulted in a much higher flow rate and higher flowing temperature, thereby confirming the potential production of at least five to six megawatts from this single well,” said Daniel Kunz, President and CEO. Permits to drill three more wells were submitted to the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries in April, and are pending approval.

ATCO Gas has partnered with Avalon Master Builder and Ener-West Geo-Energy Services Inc. to install renewable energy technology in 40 homes. Located in Carma Developers’ McKenzie Towne in South East Cal-

gary, Alberta, the homes will have all of their space heating and cooling requirements – and a portion of their hot water needs – supplied by geothermal and solar technology. Each home will be equipped with a geothermal loop (which utilizes heat from the ground), as well as a heat pump to deliver space heating and cooling needs. In addition, a solar hot water heating system will be installed to provide a portion of the home’s hot water needs, and natural gas will be used to satisfy the balance. “We are extremely pleased to be a partner in this pilot project,” said Brian Hahn, senior vice president and general manager of ATCO Gas. “We are pursuing renewable and alternative energy technology solutions for Albertans and this pilot project will help lay the foundation for future initiatives.”

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has received a record $28.2 million in bids for geothermal energy development on federal public lands in Nevada. The DOI’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) held a competitive auction of lease parcels on August 5th, 2008, in Reno, Nevada, offering 35 parcels encompassing a total of 105,211 acres – the largest geothermal sale ever in terms of dollars bid. Geothermal energy developers bid most for parcels in Churchill County, an area east of Reno, where a number of geothermal power plants are already operating. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directed changes in the way federal geothermal resources are leased, including a requirement that leasing be competitive. This sale was the ﬁrst lease sale to offer parcels formally nominated by the public using a process outlined in regulations the BLM published in May 2007 – and this process seems to have worked as all 35 parcels were sold.

ISSUE 4

Geothermal Show in print

Life Without the Production Tax Credit And its affect on wind power

A new approach to CO2

Solar

Show in print

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geothermal energy

Geothermal Developments Highlights from SMU Conference in Dallas By Kara Slack

The Navy 1 Geothermal Power Plant near Coso Hot Springs, California, is applying EGS technology (US Department of Energy)

eothermal energy is typically not the ﬁrst thing that comes to mind when thinking of Texas, a state sprinkled with oil and gas wells. But in June of this year, geothermal energy moved into the spotlight as more than 220 people came together in Dallas to learn about industry utilization of geothermal resources at Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) third annual Geothermal Energy Utilization Conference. SMU’s Geothermal Lab held the event on June 17th and 18th, and focused primarily on ways to develop geothermal energy in sedimentary basins from moderate temperatures. Those in attendance came from a va-

riety of areas including the industry, manufacturing, ﬁnancing, investment, government, academia, and real estate. Such an array of backgrounds added more dimension to the conference and helped with productivity. “This conference gave me the ability to meet a diverse group of people who had a common interest,” said Ben Russo, director of development, contracts, and regulation for Cleco Power LLC. “We were all interested in understanding the geothermal technology out there.” Highlights of the conference included presentations by industry professionals, which touched on a variety of subjects in the geothermal industry. Topics ranged

from new uses for geothermal energy to technological developments. “The technologies discussed at the conference show the advancements being made, which will increase the

“

It would need some standard research for about two or three years, and then we would be ready to go to the ﬁeld…

”

ability to develop projects at lower temperatures and ﬂuid rates,” said

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Maria Richards, program coordinator for SMU’s Geothermal Lab. These advancements are being made by development of new resources and technologies. Two more familiar

technologies that were featured are Enhanced Geothermal Systems and Geothermal Co-production. Enhanced Geothermal Systems are engineered reservoirs, created to produce energy from geothermal resources that otherwise lack water. Many projects are underway to develop this technology, including a Nevada project that could establish itself as the ﬁrst commercial project to apply this system in the United States. Geothermal Co-production is also being tested in Florida, a state that is not often linked with geothermal energy. Co-production uses thermal ﬂuids commonly produced from oil and gas wells to produce power and, if successful, could provide energy to the seven states in the Texas Gulf Coast Plain. Although advancements in these areas are recognized as important, some people are looking past them to lesser known uses and technologies. One such person is Russo, who draws attention to the fact that small geothermal power plants could be the best option during natural disasters because they have an ability to come back online faster than other types of plants. “If you are able to keep your onshore production going during natural disasters when your offshore sites are shut

nacleanenergy.com

9/6/08 7:23:17 PM

than water. Using this methodology is also beneficial because there could be an opportunity to earn credits for storing greenhouse gases. “The idea of a power plant being not just carbon neutral, but carbon negative is one to work toward,” Richards said. off, then you can reduce some of the volatility in the loss of offshore production,” he explained. During his SMU presentation, Russo focused on high security locations, like the Southern states, noting that the idea of small geothermal plants in that region has faced some setbacks due to the price of development and cooling restrictions. But geothermal plants are highly resistant to interruptions of power generation from natural disasters, making them one of the more reliable energy sources. “These mini power plants are able to serve as a back-up source that other alternative and fossil fuel energy sources cannot match,” Richards said. Cleco Power has been studying the idea of small power plants for more than a year in all of their service territories in Louisiana, and hopes to overcome the setbacks. “The power plants are something that has great potential, and we are very excited about the prospects for them,” Russo said. The conference not only showcased new uses, but also reached out to new methodologies. Karsten Pruess, a senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, introduced the concept of using carbon dioxide as a heat transmission fluid instead of water in Enhanced Geothermal Systems. Research on the concept has not only been done in the US, but also in France, Germany, and Australia. Pruess hopes that interest in it continues grows: “There are a number of things that need to be done in this area,” he said. “It would need some standard research for about two or three years, and then we would be ready to go to the field.” Like most new technologies, carbon dioxide faces the problem of expenses. A considerable amount of carbon dioxide would be needed for heat transmission, and right now it is fairly expensive. “Carbon dioxide is the biggest cost item with this,” Pruess said. “But the price of it could go down in the future if carbon dioxide is ever taxed.” It might be well worth exploring this technology though because it is estimated that using carbon dioxide would not only overcome obstacles associated with water-based Enhanced Geothermal Systems, but it could also produce at least 50% more energy

Pruess’ presentation added to the innovative ideas introduced at the SMU conference, which combined to bring more insight and ideas on ways to expand an already growing geothermal industry. “Anybody could go to this conference and get a lot of information out of it,” Russo said. “I think that is something

you need to have for the geothermal area to develop.” Geothermal Energy Utilization Associated with Oil & Gas Development (SMU Conference) www.smu.edu/geothermal

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hydro and marine energy

Tide of Optimism for New Energy Source By John Webb

he worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst commercial-scale tidal energy system has been successfully installed in fast ďŹ&#x201A;owing waters on the east coast of Northern Ireland. SeaGen, as it is known, is a gigantic device that is made up of two 0.6 megawatt (MW) turbines mounted by cross beam on a slender tower. Each turbine is served by a 16-metre-long underwater rotor turned by the waters at the mouth of Strangford Lough, a large, partially land-locked lake, that make up one of the fastest tidal ďŹ&#x201A;ows on earth. Its ability to produce 1.2 MW of electricity is four times greater than that of any other tidal turbine system. When it becomes the ďŹ rst such system to be connected to an electricity grid, it will generate enough power to meet the needs of 1,000 homes. The project has been approved for ďŹ ve yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; service to demonstrate the commercial technology that is expected to be replicated on a large scale, with potential to achieve up to 500 MW of tidal power capacity by 2015. Located 400 metres from the Ulster shoreline, most of the structure is below the seaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface where twin rotors will operate for 18 to 20 hours a day to generate a stable and predictable source of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;clean, green electricityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; without noise or pollution.

Final assembly of SeaGen was carried out at the Harland & Wolff dockyard in Belfast, and it was delivered to its working site by an 80-metre crane-barge in April 2008. The base of the deviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tower is being secured to the seabed by pins that will be pile driven to a depth of some nine metres. SeaGen, which cost 12 million pounds to develop and build, will be linked to the Northern Ireland electricity grid at Strangford through a cable that has been tunnelled under the lake. Martin Wright is managing director of the Marine Current Turbines (MCT) renewable energy company that has developed the system with ďŹ nancial backing from the UK government. After initially turning the turbines by hand, they will be subjected to low generator loads as a lead-in to service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If this is successful,â&#x20AC;? Wright said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we are looking to build at the end of 2010, or more likely 2011, a tidal farm. That would be off the Anglesey [North Wales] coast.â&#x20AC;? Such a tidal farm would be made up of several SeaGen devices linked to produce 10.5 MW. MCT, based in Bristol, west England, is aiming to be a world leader in what is proving to be an emerging industry. The company is said to be the â&#x20AC;&#x153;ďŹ rst moverâ&#x20AC;?

in the development of tidal turbines and, as a result, claims to have a signiďŹ cant global technical lead in this ďŹ eld. At present, tidal energy technology is being likened in aviation terms to the ďŹ rst biplanes, but it is evolving rapidly, and UK ďŹ rms such as MCT are said to be playing a central role in its development. The SeaGen ďŹ rm was established in 2000 and corporate shareholders include banks, as well as energy and electricity companies. Its twin turbine system is four times larger than any other tidal stream project so far built, including MCTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earlier 300KW SeaďŹ&#x201A;ow proofof-concept tidal turbine that has been operating off Lynmouth, England since

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2003, and was previously the largest offshore tidal stream device. Wright says of the industry: â&#x20AC;&#x153;SeaGen is a hugely exciting project, as well as a historic achievement for both Marine Current Turbines and for renewables in the UK and Ireland. No other system can harness the power of the tidal currents in the way this one can. Tidal energy has the great advantage of being predictable. We take great pride and see enormous potential in the technology, and hope it will eventually make a signiďŹ cant contribution to the future energy needs of the British Isles, Ireland and beyond.â&#x20AC;? He continued: â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is global interest in SeaGen, for it will be the ďŹ rst and largest commercial tidal stream device to be installed anywhere in the world. So, we can expect its installation to be a springboard for further development of the marine energy industry in the UK and Ireland. Looking ahead, MCT intends to manufacture and deploy a series of SeaGen devices in projects off Anglesey and on the Canadian seaboard within the next two to four years.â&#x20AC;? The UK Secretary of State for Energy, John Hutton, commented: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is great news that Marine Current Turbines and British innovation are leading the world in the development of marine energy technologies. It is this sort of project that will help the UK meet our ambitious targets to signiďŹ cantly increase the amount of energy from renewable sources. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marine power has the potential to make a signiďŹ cant contribution to our energy generation needs,â&#x20AC;? Hutton added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and I hope the success of this project will inspire others to follow its lead.â&#x20AC;? Article courtesy of London Press Service. Marine Turbines www.marineturbines.com BERR | www.dti.gov.uk

nacleanenergy.com

9/6/08 7:23:20 PM

hydro and marine energy news briefs Plutonic Power Corporation and GE Energy Financial Services have signed a memorandum of understanding to partner on a bid to develop approximately 1,000 MW of clean, run-of-river hydroelectric capacity in the Toba and Bute Inlets, which are along the southwest coast of British Columbia. With approximate capital costs of $4 billion, the joint investment would be the largest single private sector investment in hydroelectric generation in Canada. Plutonic Power and GE Energy Financial Services intend to jointly bid the Upper Toba Valley and Bute Inlet Projects into the 2008 BC Hydro Clean Power Call Request for Proposals in November. Based on current assumptions, if this two entities’ joint bid is accepted, GE Energy Financial Services intends to make an equity contribution of $70 million for a 50% interest in the Upper Toba Valley Project; and, either by itself, or with other partners, an equity contribution of $650 million for a 60% interest in the Bute Inlet Project. The final economic terms will be determined based on project variables including final capital cost, awarded energy price, and estimates of power output. Upon successfully acquiring an energy purchase agreement with BC Hydro, GE Energy Financial Services would be granted one million and four million warrants respectively, to purchase common shares in Plutonic Power Corporation. The warrants would be exercisable at a price equal to market price for Plutonic’s common shares at the time they are issued, include a term of five years, and be subject to vesting provisions.

National Hydropower Association (NHA) applauds the recent creation of the US Congressional Hydropower Caucus, a bi-partisan group that will promote the beneﬁts of hydropower, America’s largest renewable-energy resource. “We welcome this initiative and applaud the House members who launched this effort,” said NHA executive director Linda Church Ciocci. “Their actions recognize that hydropower is – and will remain – the keystone of the country’s energy mix.” Church Ciocci further noted that although hydropower has a century of achievement in providing large-scale, base-load capacity through dams and reservoirs, some of the most promising work being done in the renewable energy arena involves new water power technologies that capture energy from

tides, waves, rivers, streams, and even manmade ﬂows, like aqueducts. According to an Electric Power Research Institute report last year, these new technologies, combined with new efﬁciencies at existing hydropower facilities, development at existing nonpowered dams, and new small and low power hydro development, could double the industry’s overall capacity to more than 180,000 MW.

University of Manchester Intellectual Property Ltd (UMIP), along with industrial partners, are developing and commercialising an innovative and patented wave energy device, the Manchester Bobber (www.manchesterbobber.com). The commercial vision behind the device is to deploy a number of platforms, each of which supports a

closely spaced array of bobbing floats (between 25 and 50) that generate electricity through independent generators. Each generator will be rated at 500kW, so a platform will be rated at approximately 12MW and will provide an average annual output of 4MW. Initially, platforms will be deployed in water depths of between 20 to 40 metres. What makes the Manchester Bobber different from other schemes is that it can generate constant power, rather than surges as each wave breaks. It is reliable and cheap to produce, with all the mechanical and electrical components already available. Plus, all important moving parts are above the waves, so they will never get wet. If waves get more than 10 meters high due to a storm, the floats can be remotely flooded to the whole unit sinks to the sea bed until it’s safe.

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Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced it will proceed with steps to issue 12 limited leases to conduct wind, wave, and ocean current data collection and technology testing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The announcement came a couple of weeks after MMS published its proposed rule governing alternative energy leasing on the OCS for public notice and comment. Because a ﬁnal rule is not expected until the end of the year, the ﬁve-year, non-competitive limited leases will be issued under MMS’s interim policy for authorizing projects. Limited leases issued under the interim policy will be regulated according to the same rules set-out for limited leases in the proposed rule and will not grant to the lessees any right or priority for commercial development.

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ISSUE 2

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hydro and marine energy

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Blue Energy is commercializing the Davis Hydro Turbine, capable of converting tidal currents into firm, renewable electricity. Comparable in design to an ultra-efficient underwater windmill, the Davis Turbine has four fixed hydrofoil blades that are connected to a rotor, which drives an integrated gearbox and electrical generator assembly. The turbine is mounted in a durable concrete marine caisson, which anchors the unit to the ocean floor, directing water flow while supporting the coupler, gearbox, and generator above. Hydrofoil blades employ a hydrodynamic lift principle that causes turbine foils to move proportionately faster than the speed of surrounding water, and a computer-optimized crossflow design ensures rotation of the turbine is uni-directional on both the ebb and the flow of the tide. Modular in design, the Davis Hydro Turbine is capable of meeting any site application from 5kW to 500kW for river applications, and from 200 MW to 8000 MW ocean installations. Blue Energy | www.bluenergy.com

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Turbine for tidal streams Lunar Energy holds an exclusive, worldwide license to technology for generating renewable energy from tidal streams, known as the Rotech Tidal Turbine (RTT). RTT is a bi-directional, horizontal axis turbine housed in a symmetrical venturi duct; whereby, the venturi draws existing ocean currents into the RTT to capture and convert energy into electricity. Use of a gravity foundation allows the turbine to be deployed quickly, with little or no seabed preparation, at depths in excess of 40 metres. This opens up a potential energy source that is ﬁve times the size of that available to companies using pile foundations. Lunar Energy www.lunarenergy.co.uk North American Clean Energy is published 6 times a year. To subscribe, go to

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Turnkey battery backup power for PV or wind turbine The PowerTower is a next generation backup power system designed to provide renewable energy installers and customers with the ability to easily integrate battery backup power into their distributed PV or wind turbine installations. The PowerTower offers a ready-to-use system that eliminates the need for costly

and time-consuming self-assembly, and the entire turnkey system is safety-certiﬁed to UL standards. “Until recently, it was extremely difﬁcult to add battery backup power to a renewable energy installation,” says Matt Johnson, director of business development at Gaia. “With this new solution, we’ve eliminated the hassle of hooking up individual batteries to your inverter/charger.” The PowerTower offers a single hard-

ware interface for all power sources, and units activate instantaneously in a power outage, are emissions-free, virtually silent, and can be installed indoors. The PowerTower scales easily to accommodate unique needs of any installation, systems are rated from 4.5kW to 30kW of continuous power output, and are conﬁgured for 120/240V output. Gaia Power Technologies, Inc. www.gaiapowertechnologies.com

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Clean Energy website roundup AlternativeEnergy.com

is designed as an online resource that thinks “outside the barrel” in its presentation and discussion of alternative energy. Cleanenergyclassrooms.ca

is Canada’s clean energy training portal. This site is designed as an online directory to education options in the renewable energy sector. Renewableenergystocks.com

features an excellent mix of news, info, and alternative energy stock directories. www.solarcrime.net

was created by the German-based Alliance against Solar Crime, and is designed to provide information about the common methods used by fraudsters, and on how sellers and dealers can protect themselves against ﬁnancial loss.

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eventscalendar OCTOBER 2008 5-8

Geothermal Energy Association Trade Show 2008 and GRC 2008 Annual Meeting Reno, NV – Peppermill Resort Hotel; www.geo-energy.org

8-9

CSP & CPV Investment & Finance Summit 08 Madrid, Spain – Mirasierra Suites Hotel; www.csptoday.com/euﬁnance

9-12

RENEXP0 2008 Augsburg, Germany – Fair and Convention Center Augsburg; www.renexpo.de

13-16

Solar Power 2008 San Diego, CA – San Diego Convention Center; www.solarpowerconference.com

14-16

Energy from Biomass & Waste 2008 Pittsburgh, PA – David L. Lawrence Convention Center; www.ebw-expo.com

19-22

CanWEA 2008: Fast Forward to Wind Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Convention Centre; www.canwea.ca

23-24

US - Mexico Border Energy Forum XV Monterrey, Nuevo León – Crowne Plaza Hotel; www.borderenergyforum.org

27-28

Renewable Energy Finance Forum - West Seattle, WA – Grand Hyatt; www.euromoney.com

27-29

Agra Informa’s 2nd Annual Biogas Conference Brussels, Belgium – Crowne Plaza Europa Hotel; www.agra-net.com/biogas

29-31

Global WindPower 2008 Beijing, China – China International Exhibition Center; www.globalwind.org.cn

NOVEMBER 2008 4-5

18-19

Canadian Hydropower Association’s Forum on Hydropower: Past, Present, and Future Ottawa, ON – Fairmont Château Laurier; www.canhydropower.org APPrO 2008 - 20th Annual Canadian Power Conference Toronto, ON – Metro Toronto Convention Centre; www.appro.org

DECEMBER 2008 2-4

Power-Gen International 2008 Orlando, FL – Orange County Convention Center; www.pgi08.events.pennnet.com

7-9

CanSIA Solar Conference 2008 Toronto, ON – The Westin Harbour Castle; www.cansia.ca

10-11

Waste to Energy 2008 Bremen, Germany – Bremen Exhibition Center; www.wte-expo.de

FEBRUARY 2009 1-4

EUEC 2009: 12th Annual Conference on Clean Air, Mercury, Global Warming & Renewable Energy Phoenix, AZ – Phoenix Convention Center; www.euec.com

24-26

RETECH Las Vegas, NV – LV Convention Center; www.acore.org

Send us your clean energy show and event listings. Email information to the Editor at kbarker@nacleanenergy.com

Garrad Hassan wind industry training courses Wind industry education courses are offered from September through January in cities throughout North America, the UK and Europe. Courses include Wind Farm Design, Introduction to GH WindFarmer, Financing a Wind Farm, Offshore Wind Energy, Introduction to Wave Energy, and Wind Farm Electrical Systems. For further information contact training@garradhassan.com or visit www.garradhassan.com 86

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Global market for thin ﬁlms in energy applications worth $3.9 billion by 2013 PROJECTED GLOBAL SHIPMENTS OF THIN FILMS FOR ENERGY, 2008 AND 2013 ($ MILLIONS)

Source: BCC Research

According to a new technical market research report, THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILMS IN ENERGY APPLICATIONS (EGY060A) from BCC Research, the global market for thin films in energy applications was worth $1.1 billion in 2007. This is expected to increase to $1.4 billion in 2008 and $3.9 billion in 2013, for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.5%. The market is divided into application segments for photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, geothermal energy, nuclear energy, batteries and fuel cells. Of these, the photovoltaics segment has the largest share of the market, with $916.4 million in revenues in 2007. This is slated to increase to $1.2 billion in 2008 and over $3.3 billion in 2013, a CAGR of 23.6%. Thin films for fuel cell applications are the second largest segment, with sales exceeding $82.0 million in 2007. This should increase to $98.7 million in 2008 and $301.0 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 25.0%. Thin films for batteries have the third largest share of the market, worth $36.0 million in 2007 and an estimated $39.2 million in 2008. This segment should reach over $98.0 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 20.1%. Applications in nuclear energy are expected to see the slowest growth of any segment. Revenues in 2007 exceeded $25.0 million and are expected to increase only slightly in 2008. This segment should reach $33.1 million in 2013 for a CAGR of 5.0%. Concentrating solar power applications are expected to see the most robust growth of any segment. Sales for thin films in this segment generated $14.7 million in 2007 and an estimated $23.4 million in 2008. This is expected to reach $93.0 million in 2013 for a CAGR of 31.8%. Thin films for geothermal applications have the smallest share of the market, worth $2.7 million in 2007. This is expected to increase to $3.0 million in 2008 and $5.3 million in 2013, a CAGR of over 12.0%. BCC Research | www.bccresearch.com

Analysis finds $33 billion in taxpayerfunded giveaways to oil companies planned for next five years Even though it is experiencing record profits, the oil and gas industry is set to receive at least $33 billion in handouts from US taxpayers over the next five years, according to an analysis released recently by Friends of the Earth. “This is a tremendous sum for taxpayers to be doling out to the oil and gas industry,” said Friends of the Earth’s Erich Pica, who authored the analysis. “The corporate fat cats at these big oil companies are already earning record profits— they don’t need our tax dollars too. There are far smarter places to use this money, including bringing down energy costs by investing in the clean power sources of the future, such as wind and solar.” Friends of the Earth’s analysis found that over the next five years oil companies stand to gain at least $23.2 billion from tax loopholes, $3.8 billion in royalty rollbacks, $1.6 billion in direct subsidies for research and development, and $4.3 billion through accounting gimmicks. The analysis found that tax giveaways have increased dramatically since the passage of a Republican-drafted energy bill in 2005. “These giveaways to Big Oil make zero policy sense whatsoever – the only explanation is that the industry’s corporate lobbyists have taken over Washington,” Pica said. “Congress can and should end these subsidies and invest this money in promoting affordable clean energy instead.” The analysis can be found at: http://www.foe.org/pdf/FoE_Oil_Giveaway_Analysis_2008.pdf. Established in 1969, Friends of the Earth (foe.org) “is the US voice of the world’s largest grassroots environmental network,” with member groups in 70 countries. Friends of the Earth | www.foe.org.

nacleanenergy.com

9/6/08 7:23:28 PM

Power analytics software program Paladin Live PUE-DCiE Advisor is the ﬁrst power analytics software program designed to automatically calculate and present power efﬁciency ratings, using standards published by the global IT Association, The Green Grid. This

program is designed to help facility operators increase energy efﬁciencies, based on IT equipment usage, as well as provide them with vital information about system health, reliability and capacity. Used in conjunction with Paladin Live’s new Paladin BlackBoard option, users gain the valuable ability to take a baseline model of their operations, and – in real time – allow them to make changes

or propose “what if” scenarios, allowing them to project the future impact of those changes on the calculation of PUE (ratio of a facility’s total power to the power being drawn by IT equipment) or DCiE (the percentage of IT equipment . The Paladin Live PUE-DCiE Advisor feature attacks the problem of energy inefﬁciency in two ways: ﬁrst, the Company’s Paladin DesignBase computer-aided

design (CAD) modeler allows power systems engineers to design, simulate, and analyze the power systems model to optimize energy usage prior to construction. Once the facility is operational, EDSA’s Paladin Live platform continually diagnoses the facility’s performance by benchmarking it back against the design model. EDSA Micro Corporation www.edsa.com

Linde to fuel Missouri’s first hydrogen refuelling station Linde North America is now providing gaseous hydrogen for Missouri’s first hydrogen vehicle refuelling station, which opened August 19 in Rolla, Missouri. The station is located at Missouri University of Science and Technology’s E3 (E-cubed) Commons development. Linde is delivering, storing and supplying fuel cell-grade gaseous hydrogen for the station on behalf of the Gas Technology Institute (headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois) which has partnered with the university to supply the station. Linde also will provide technical support to GTI to ensure the safe and efficient performance of the refuelling system. “Linde and GTI are working together to commercialize production technology used to refuel alternative-energy vehicles. We appreciate the opportunity to continue working together for this important launch,” said Christopher Hric, account manager for Linde North America. The opening event in August coincided with a stop along the Hydrogen Road Tour, a coast-to-coast tour of hydrogen vehicles organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, and two industry associations: the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the National Hydrogen Association. Nine automakers are participating. The tour, which started August 11 in Portland, Maine, is making multiple stops in 17 states and the District of Columbia. It is aimed at raising awareness of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel and of the need to develop a US hydrogen energy infrastructure. For the tour, Linde is supplying liquid hydrogen to fuel BMW’s Hydrogen 7 Series cars. The liquid hydrogen is green; Linde produces it in Magog, Quebec, where it derives the hydrogen from water using renewable hydroelectric power. The event at Rolla was the latest facet of Missouri S&T’s “Show Me the Road to Hydrogen” project, a collaborative effort involving several federal agencies, the Missouri Transportation Institute and corporate partners. The Linde Group | www.linde.com North American Clean Energy

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On Renewable Energy Technologies By Jami Krynski

majority of renewable energy technologies are directly or indirectly powered by the sun. The earthatmosphere system is in equilibrium such that heat radiation into space is equal to incoming solar radiation, and the resulting level of energy can be described as earth’s “climate.” The hydrosphere (water) absorbs a major fraction of incoming radiation. Most radiation is absorbed at low latitudes around the equator, but this energy is dissipated around the globe in the form of winds and ocean currents. Wave motion may play a role in transferring mechanical energy between the atmosphere and ocean through wind stress. Solar energy is also responsible for distribution of precipitation, which is tapped by hydroelectric projects and for the growth of plants used to create biofuels. Renewable energy ﬂows involve natural phenomena such as sunlight, wind, tides, and geothermal heat, as the International Energy Agency explains: “Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it de-

rives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the deﬁnition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources.” Each of these sources has unique characteristics that inﬂuence how and where they are used. Wind power

Driven primarily by an extension of the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) and by the growth and diversiﬁcation of state Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) policies, the Unite States wind industry has been the largest annual growth market in the world since 2005. With state markets such as Texas, California, New York, Minnesota, Colorado, and Washington at the forefront of wind growth, the US is expected to reach a cumulative installed wind capacity of nearly 49,000 MW by the end of 2015. Fueled by tremendous annual market potential since 2005, industry consolidation has increased rapidly with domestic

power generation players vying with aggressive foreign entrants for US wind company acquisition opportunities. As a current round of consolidation creates numerous vertically integrated wind IPP’s with both Greenfield expertise and financial capital in-house, the competitive position of pure-play developers is eroding with competition for annual growth solidifying around a group of 10 to 15 big named IPP players. Spurred both by recent volatility in fossil fuel prices and by state RPS mandates, US utility demand for wind procurement has reached an all-time high with several companies seeking to extract greater value by exploring wind project ownership and development. Project development activity has quickly responded to a growing level of renewable demand. A forecasted $65 billion is expected to be invested in additional wind capacity between 2008 and 2015. The United States is projected to rank first in the world in cumulative installed wind capacity with approximately 19% of global wind market share by the end of 2015. As a result of heightened wind pro-

curement activity, the number of US utilities with large-scale wind energy portfolios has increased substantially. Portfolios of top utility wind procurers will contain more than 8GW of installed wind nameplate capacity by the end of 2008; thereby, representing nearly 55% of total wind capacity estimated to be installed at that time. Although the US has witnessed an unparalleled growth spurt in recent years, several key developments will be critical if the market is to sustain its current growth trajectory over the coming decade. Speciﬁcally, federal renewable energy policy incentives such as a combination of the PTC, a national RPS, and/or carbon emissions regulations will be essential to continue driving wind growth upward. The current political landscape on both sides of the isle, in conjunction with an increasing green energy mindset of the American public, has led to an unprecedented growth in the US Renewable Energy Market. Wind generation is the fastest emerging sector in the renewable industry, and this unprecedented growth has brought a reality of rural development back to areas that have not experienced comparable growth since the oil boom era. Wind energy is now widely seen in the US as an important way for a utility to diversify its generation portfolios, and individual states to quench their state RPS mandates. Industrial investment and capacity expansions, along with wind component supply chain, will continue to grow. However, production increases will not happen overnight as turbine suppliers strive to reach production targets while managing component supply shortages and maintaining quality assurance. Although many vendors continue to face difﬁculties managing initial production at new manufacturing and assembly facilities, longterm the US wind turbine manufacturing industry base will only strengthen, potentially providing downward cost pressure on wind turbine suppliers and balance of plant constructors. Biofuel

Plants use photosynthesis to grow and produce biomass. Also known as biomatter, biomass can be used directly as fuel or to produce liquid biofuel. Agri88

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Photo courtesy of Jim Finch Photography culturally produced biomass fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, and bagasse (often a by-product of sugar cane cultivation) can be burned in internal combustion engines or boilers. Typically, biofuel is burned to release its stored chemical energy. Research into more efficient methods of converting biofuels and other fuels into electricity utilizing fuel cells is currently an area of very active work. Liquid biofuel is usually either a bioalcohol such as ethanol fuel, or a bio-oil such as biodiesel and straight vegetable oil. Biodiesel can be used in modern diesel vehicles with little, or no modification to an engine. This can be made from waste, virgin vegetable, animal oil and fats (lipids). Virgin vegetable oils can be used in modified diesel engines. In fact, a diesel engine was originally designed to run on vegetable oil, rather than fossil fuel. A major benefit of biodiesel is lower emissions, reducing emissions of carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons by 20 to 40%. In some areas corn, cornstalks, sugar beets, sugar cane, and switch grasses are grown specifically to produce ethanol (also known as grain alcohol), a liquid which can be used in internal combustion engines and fuel cells. Ethanol is being phased into the current energy infrastructure. E85 is a fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline that is sold to consumers. Biobutanol is being developed as an alternative to bioethanol. However, there is growing international criticism about biofuels from food crops with respect to issues such as food security, environmental impacts (deforestation), and energy balance. Solid biomass is most commonly used directly as a combustible fuel, producing 10 to 20 MJ/kg of heat. Its forms and sources include wood fuel, the biogenic portion of municipal solid waste, or the unused portion of field crops. Field crops may not be grown intentionally as an energy crop; however, the remaining plant by-product can be used as fuel. Most types of biomass contain energy. Even cow manure contains two-thirds of the original energy consumed by a cow. Energy harvesting via a bioreactor is a cost-effective solution to waste disposal issues faced by a dairy farmer,

and can produce enough biogas to run a farm. With current technology, it is not ideally suited for use as a transportation fuel. Most transportation vehicles require power sources with high power density such as that provided by internal combustion engines. These engines generally require clean burning fuels, which are often in liquid form and, to a lesser extent, compressed gaseous phase. Liquids are more portable because they have high energy density and can be pumped, which makes handling easier. Non-transportation applications can usually tolerate the low power-density of external combustion engines that can run directly on less-expensive solid biomass fuel. One type of biomass is wood, which has been used for millennia in varying quantities, and more recently is ﬁnding increased use. Two billion people cook each day and heat their homes in winter by burning biomass, which is a major contributor to man-made climate change and global warming. Wood and its by-products can now be converted through process such as gasiﬁcation into biofuels such as wood gas, biogas, methanol, or ethanol fuel. Further development is required to make these methods affordable and practical. Solar

Little, if anything, is more powerful and constant than energy from the sun. By utilizing solar radiation energy for practical ends, solar energy has experience fantastic growth. Technologies that use secondary solar resources such as biomass, wind, waves, and ocean thermal gradients can be included in a broader

description of solar energy. Because performance of solar technologies varies widely between regions, each should be deployed in a way that carefully considers these variations. Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive or active depending on how they capture, convert, and distribute sunlight. Active solar techniques use photovoltaic (PV) panels, pumps, and fans to convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive solar techniques include selecting materials with favorable thermal properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air, and referencing the position of a building to the sun. Active solar technologies increase the supply of energy and are considered supply side technologies; whreas, passive solar technologies reduce a need for alternate resources and are generally considered demand side technologies. In the United States, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for over 25% of energy used in commercial buildings and nearly half of energy used in residential buildings. Solar heating, cooling, and ventilation technologies can be used to offset a portion of this energy. Companies are developing new ways to create components of solar power, which require plastics and fossil fuels. Conventional PV cells have plastic polymer backings that are made from petroleum, so even though solar power is clean, it still leaves a carbon footprint. One reason solar power has remained expensive is because of the cost to produce that backing. (BioSolar makes its backings from used,

cotton rags that are turned into cellulose ﬁlms and blended with castor beans.) According to some independent rankings, at the end of 2007 Southern California Edison (SCE) was the US utility with the most megawatts of solar electric capacity, and the most solar capacity per customer. However, with so many solar projects under contract, it is highly likely SCE will not hold the same rank by the end of this year. California-based Paciﬁc Gas & Electric provided the most solar energy per customer, according to SEPA’s current statement of rankings. In the public power utility category, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power held the most solar integrated overall, and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative in Hawaii held a title of highest capacity per customer. In addition to California and Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin make up the top 10 states utilizing solar technology. White Construction, a large player throughout the US and Canada in balance of plant wind farm construction, has also begun integration into the solar industry as a balance of plant constructor. The solar industry continues to be the fastest-growing power generation technology in the world, with 50% annual increases in cumulative installed capacity, both in 2007 and 2008, to an estimated 9.2 GW by the end of 2008 worldwide. Jami Krynski is the renewable energy business development manager for White Construction. White Construction www.whiteconstruction.com

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Vibration energy harvest technology is turning heads

REMA calls on WCI to strengthen Cap & Trade program recommendations

World leader in vibration energy-harvesting, Perpetuum, recently won the award for the most promising European green-tech company at the 1st Transatlantic Green Platform award ceremonies, held as part of the 6th World Investment Conference at La Baule, France. Perpetuum won the award for their “vibration harvesting technology” which converts waste energy from unused mechanical vibrations into useful electrical energy, which can be used to power industrial wireless sensors. Perpetuum’s vibration energy-harvesting microgenerators are based on a highly optimised magnetic circuit coupled to a mechanical resonator. This arrangement successfully transforms the kinetic energy of vibration into electrical current. Now successfully commercialised, the PMG17 vibration energy harvester produces enough energy to power sensors, micro processors and RF systems, enabling critical performance data to be transmitted over wireless protocols. PMG17 microgenerators are intended for use on machinery driven by AC motors and harvest commonly-found “twice-line-frequency” vibrations. Even with as little as 25mg (RMS) vibration within a 2Hz bandwidth, these units will always produce a minimum power of 0.5mW, while delivering up to 40mW when there is more vibration available. These devices output alternating current and are intended to charge a storage capacitor via rectiﬁcation. The PMG17 product range is particularly suitable for industrial applications, such as Asset Tracking & Management, Process Monitoring, Plant Safety & Security, and Environmental, Health and Safety systems which can all rely on the PMG17 microgenerator as their power source. Perpetuum also makes models designed speciﬁcally for the aerospace and transportation industries.

In comments filed this August by the Renewable Energy Marketers Association (REMA), the organization has strongly encouraged Western Climate Initiative (WCI) leaders to include the promotion of voluntary markets for renewable energy and the resulting reduction in carbon emissions as one of the stated public purposes of the WCI cap-and-trade program. “REMA’s primary objective is to ensure that any cap-and-trade program expands the ability of voluntary renewable energy demand to reduce carbon emissions,” stated REMA Vice-Chair Thomas H. Rawls. “To accomplish this objective, voluntary demand for renewable energy must result either in retirement of allowances or in lowering of the cap.” Residential and commercial electricity customers across the western United States currently enjoy the option to voluntarily purchase renewable energy. In all states that participate in the WCI, the voluntary market for renewable energy is significant. In 2005, US consumers made voluntary purchases of renewable energy totaling about 8.5 million MWh, and 2006 purchases are estimated to total about 12 million MWh. The voluntary market grew by 62% in 2004, 37% in 2005, and 40% in 2006, and currently represents nearly one-fifth of the overall renewable energy demand from both compliance and voluntary markets on an MWh-basis. If the voluntary market continues to grow at a rate of 35% annually, it will reach about 40 million MWh by 2010 and represent about one-quarter of the total US demand from voluntary and compliance markets. “The ability of customer choice to contribute meaningfully to GHG reductions is at stake. Without an allocation of allowances to account for voluntary renewable energy sales, the renewable energy market will be undermined,” continued Rawls. “We are at a historic moment in time and all reasonable, cost-effective options to reduce GHG emissions should be encouraged.” Under the current WCI cap-and-trade draft design, carbon regulations that fail to reflect the effect of green power purchases on GHG emissions levels may be adopted. According to REMA, this will undermine the environmental objectives of customers who voluntarily purchase renewable energy. A robust market for renewable electricity, RECs and distributed renewable energy generation already operates in the Western US. Without an explicit provision for allowance allocation recognizing the GHG reduction benefits from renewable energy purchases within the region that comprises the WCI, the voluntary renewable energy market may cease to exist. The leading market driver – the ability to make a difference in reducing GHG emissions through consumer choice tied to market forces – will have been eliminated.

Perpetuum Ltd. | www.perpetuum.co.uk

The Renewable Energy Marketers Association (REMA) www.renewablemarketers.org/resources.

advertisers’ website directory 60

AAER Inc. www.aaer.ca

Con-Tech Systems www.contechsystems.com

Granutech-Saturn www.granutech.com

Nordic Windpower www.nordicwindpower.com

SolarWorld www.solarworld-usa.com

Accurate Solar Power www.accuratesolarpower.com

Corix Utilities www.corix.com

Hoskin Scientiﬁc www.hoskin.ca

NRG Systems www.nrgsystems.com

Solectria Renewables www.solren.com

Aeroline Tube Systems www.isiclick.com

Day 4 Energy www.day4energy.com

HRH www.hrh.com

Oerlikon Solar www.oerlikon.com/solar

Solene Solar Hot Water Systems www.solene-usa.com

Amonix www.amonix.com

DEGERenergie Tracking Systems www.degerenergie.com

INTERSOLAR 2009 www.intersolar.us

Patriot Solar Group www.patriotsolargroup.com

Solis Energy www.solisenergy.com

Allied Tube & Conduit www.alliedtube.com

Dr Shrink www.dr-shrink.com

Intertek www.intertek-etlsemko.com

Peterson www.petersoncorp.com

Sopogy www.sopogy.com

Applied Materials www.appliedmaterials.com/solar

VALENTIN Energy Software www.valentin.de

IPPBC www.ippbc.com

Pﬁster Energy www.pfisterenergy.com

Space Potential www.spacepotential.com

ASYS www.asys-group.com

Dynamesh Inc. www.dynamesh.com

John Deere Credit Company www.johndeere.com/windenergy

Powercorp Alaska LLC www.pcorpalaska.com

SSI Shredding Systems, Inc www.ssiworld.com

AWEA www.awea.org

EFD www.efd-inc.com

Keith Manufacturing Co. www.keithwalkingfloor.com

POWER-Gen International. www.power-gen.com

Rolls Battery Engineering www.rollsbattery.com

Baja Construction Co. Inc. www.bajasolarcarports.com

Enerdynamics www.enerdynamics.com/renewables

K-Line Maintenance www.k-line.ca

Premier Power www.premierpower.com

Systems 3 Inc www.system3inc.com

Blue Oak PV Products www.blueoakpvproducts.com

enXco www.enxco.com

Langara Fishing Adventures www.langara.com

PV Powered Inc. www.pvpowered.com

Terra Watt Power www.terrawattpower.com

Blue Sky Energy Inc. www.blueskyenergyinc.com

Equipment Express www.equipmentexpress.com

Liebherr-Canada Ltd. www.liebherrcranes.net

Quick Mount PV www.quickmountpv.com

Terraﬁx www.terrafix.us

Center for Sustainable Energy California www.energycenter.org

EYE Lighting International of North America, Inc. www.eyelighting.com

M + W Zander www.mw-zander.com

Trina Solar www.trinasolar.com

CANSIA www.cansia.ca

46-47 Fagen Inc. www.fageninc.com

Mariah Resources, Inc www.mariahresources.com

Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo www.renewableenergyworld-events.com

Urecon Pre-Insulated Pipe www.urecon.com

Carbone of America www.carbonebrush.com

FCI www.burndy.com

Matrikon www.matrikon.com

RETECH 2009 www.retech2009.com

Satcon www.satcon.com

VBINE Energy www.vbine.com

Cavolution www.cavolution.com

Schletter Inc. www.schletter-inc.us

Vecoplan, LLC www.vecoplanllc.com

Continental Biomass Industries, Inc www.cbi-inc.com

Federation of New York Solid Waste Associations www.nyfederation.org

Schüco www.schuco-usa.com

Wieland Electric Inc. www.wielandinc.com

Centrosolar America www.centrosolaramerica.com

Ferraz Shawmut www.us.ferrazshawmut.com

National City Energy Capital www.nc-4.com

Sky Fuel www.skyfuel.com

White Construction Inc. www.whiteconstruction.com

Chicago Industrial Fasteners, LLC www.cifwind.com

GE Energy www.ge-energy.com/wind

National Hydrogen Association www.hydrogenassociation.org

Smartech International LP www.smartechonline.com

Xantrex Technology Inc. www.xantrex.com

Citel, Inc . www.citelprotection.com

NewEarth Renewable Energy Inc www.newearth1.net

Your Solar Home www.yoursolarhome.com

Clean Energy Technologies www.cleanenergytechnologies.net

Gexpro Services www.gexproservices.com

Next Generation Energy www.ngeus.com

Snap-on Industrial www.snapon.com/industrial

Global Energy Services www.ges-usa.com

Niagara Fasteners Inc. www.niagarafasteners.com

Solar Sciences, LLC www.energysemi.com

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GE Sensing www.portavisibility.com

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP www.milbank.com

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The new largest solar PV factory in America is now open for business. SolarWorld’s new vertically integrated factory in Hillsboro, Oregon combines over 30 years of American PV manufacturing with the latest research and development from around the world. This state of the art factory embodies SolarWorld’s commitment to the American market as the largest manufacturer of PV products in the US since 1977. Installing US-made SolarWorld Sunmodules not only ensures superior reliability and performance, it also avoids emissions from overseas shipping and provides manufacturing jobs for Americans Call 1-866-226-5819 to get SolarWorld Sunmodules for your next install.

Visit SolarWorld in Booth 1613 at

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SolarWorld California 4650 Adohr Lane Camarillo, CA 93012 1-866-226-5819 service@solarworld-usa.com www.solarworld-usa.com 9/6/08 7:23:45 PM

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